(Image: The Northern Echo)
A man given a suspended prison sentence for taking part in a group revenge attack risked being jailed after missing unpaid work.
Christopher Ross was one of four defendants, including his son, involved in the “punishment attack”, in February 2023, on a man in Framwellgate Moor, Durham, who was struck with a bottle and beaten with a dog chain.
The victim was treated in hospital for serious head and other injuries but did not support the prosecution.
Ross, now 45, of The Avenue, Consett, took part as the victim had reportedly threatened his teenage son earlier that day.
He admitted unlawful wounding and, along with his three co-defendants, received a suspended sentence at Durham Crown Court in February.
Defendant Christopher Ross was back at Durham Crown Court having failed to attend two unpaid work appointments
His sentence was suspended for 18 months, during which he was ordered to complete 100 hours' unpaid work and 15 probation-run rehabilitation days.
Judge Jo Kidd warned Ross and his three co-defendants that further offences or breaches could see them back before her and risk, “going down to the cells”.
Ross appeared back at the court before Judge Kidd on Tuesday (October 13), after breaching his suspended sentence order.
He admitted missing two unpaid work appointments, one in May and one in July.
Dan Wilberforce, representing the Probation Service, said an updated report showed Ross has since “re-engaged” and reduced his outstanding unpaid work to 51 hours, half of which could be completed online.
David Callan, for Ross, said he had been told to attend a work appointment in Framwellgate Moor, where there were fears of reprisals from friends of the original victim.
The work placements were then moved closer to Ross’s home in the Consett area.
As a result, Mr Callan said Ross has again been attending the sessions regularly.
Judge Kidd said Ross was “old enough and experienced enough” to know he should have spoken to those in charge of the work sessions if problems arose.
She told Ross that “burying your head in the sand” was no way to deal with such issues.
Judge Kidd said Ross appeared to have realised this after re-engaging, so she could avoid activating some or all of his sentence.
But, to mark the breach, she added 10 hours to Ross’s unpaid work and ordered him to pay £150 in hearing costs.
Judge Kidd warned him: “I don’t want to see you before me again, because if you do, you will be sent to prison.”
Ross had previously received a one-year custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months, after admitting a public-order offence and possessing a knife in May 2025.