(Image: The Northern Echo)
A psychiatric report has been ordered to get to the bottom of a nuisance County Durham defendant's cycle of offending.
Paul Lee, 48, appeared before Durham Crown Court by video link from Holme House Prison in Stockton on Wednesday (October 14) to be sentenced for a string of offences for which he was convicted at magistrates’ court.
They include eight breaches of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, criminal damage to property of under £5,000 in value and failure to comply with a Public Spaces Protection Order.
Recorder Tony Hawks KC told the court at the outset of the hearing: “It seems to me that the time has come where there ought to be a psychiatric report.
Recorder at Durham Crown Court seeks psychiatric report on frequent nuisance offender Paul Lee to get to the bottom of causes for his cycle of offending
“I regard that as vital as far as sentencing this man is concerned, given the deep-seated nature of what’s going on here.”
Laura Miller, for Lee, told the court: “This is a vicious cycle which needs to be broken.
“He has assured me he will comply with any order.
“He’s keen to get assistance both with his alcohol addiction and his mental health.”
Lee, of Wheatfield Gardens, Crook, has previously been given Criminal Behaviour Orders after anti-social behaviour in Durham city centre.
They include an incident in which he had to be rescued from the River Wear by police assisted by firefighters
Recorder Hawks remanded Lee in custody until the psychiatric assessment is complete, with sentencing due on November 25.