Court told South Tyneside man will take 19 YEARS to pay off his fines at £20 a month

Robert Thornton, 37, of Tynemouth Road, Primrose, Jarrow, is reducing his £4,493 debt by £20 a month, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court was told.

It will take him another 19 years and two months to pay his dues – and he has yet to be sentenced for his latest crimes which could incur further financial penalties.

Thornton appeared at the court for sentencing, having breached the order on December 14 and January 8, and caused harassment, alarm or distress on May 3, pleading guilty to all charges at an earlier hearing.

His case has now again been adjourned for a report into his offending to be prepared, delaying sentencing at the same court until November 3.

Prosecutor Lesley Burgess said: “A restraining order was imposed on February 25, 2015, and it was for five years, meaning it has expired.

“The complainant describes a relationship with the defendant from between 2010 and 2015, and then there was an issue and the restraining order.

“The defendant denied that he had taken her phone from her and assaulted her with it on December 14.

“He said the complainant had smashed her own phone but he did admit to being with her on that day in breach of the order.”

Ms Burgess said the second breach happened on January 8, adding: “There had been an argument, it had been very heated.

“He said that he had been attacked with a Hoover. He says that as he was being hit, he grabbed her as self-defence.”

The court heard no assault charge followed but the incident again put him in breach of the restraining order.

And on May 3 a neighbour of the woman could hear shouting and spotted him outside her home.

When she threatened to call police, he told her, “Watch what you do, I’ll smash your head in”.

David Forrester, defending, said: “The restraining order is now over and she doesn’t want a new one.

“At some point, they will get on with their lives, together or apart.”

Thornton was bailed on condition he does not contact his former partner and resides at his home address.

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