(Image: The Northern Echo)
A man’s "woeful" response to a suspended sentence order has now landed him behind bars.
Gavin Burridge completed only 90 minutes of a 200-hour unpaid work order within eight months of it being imposed at court, last December.
Durham Crown Court heard that the 41-year-old defendant received a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 24 months for offences of blackmail and theft, on December 5.
As part of the sentence, he received a 200-hour unpaid work order, with a requirement to attend 20 probation-run rehabilitation activity days and he was also ordered to comply with a 120-day alcohol abstinence requirement.
Gavin Burridge, 41, starting a ten-month jail term after breaching terms of a suspended sentence order passed last December
(Image: The Northern Echo)
But Burridge, of Mariners Way, Seaham, was back before the court for breaching the order, which he admitted.
Chris Morrison, prosecuting on behalf of the Probation Service, said the defendant’s response was, “somewhat bleak”.
By the time breach proceedings were instigated last month, the defendant had only attended one of the rehabilitation activity sessions, had completed only 90 minutes’ unpaid work and had failed to comply with the abstinence order as the presence of alcohol was indicated withing the timeframe set by the court.
“It’s a concern there has been such a substantial withdrawal from attending, but there is still time on the order to run it to completion,” added Mr Morrison.
Elisha Marsay, for Burridge, told the court: “He’s accepted the breaches at the first opportunity.
“There’s been a combination of factors contributing to the breaches, as, while it’s not an acceptable excuse, he was working seven-days-a-week.
“His relationship with his partner broke down and he wasn’t getting all his letters about his appointments.
“But he accepts he should have attended.
“He’s now got a new job but only working six-day-weeks and he is in a position to pay a financial penalty, if thought appropriate.”
But Judge Edward Legard told the defendant: “You may have considered yourself extremely fortunate to have been given a suspended sentence last December, and a relatively light one, at that.
“I have no doubt the sentencing judge will have made it clear the need to comply with that order and the consequences of failing to comply.”
The judge said the defendant’s compliance was “woeful” and he has only just begun re-engaging after warning letters were issued.
“Community orders are not handed out for fun. They serve an extremely important purpose.”
The judge said he had no doubt the defendant's failure to comply with the order was “deliberate”.
He, therefore, activated ten months of the suspended sentence, of which Burridge must serve up to half in custody.