South Shields dad breached restraining order when he visited his son on Father's Day

Joseph Tickner, 30, of Waverdale Way, Tyne Dock, South Shields, contacted the woman to ask if he could be at the get-together – and turned up soon after on his bicycle.

His visit, at which her mum was present, passed without incident, but police were tipped off, forcing Tickner to hand himself in before he could be arrested.

His solicitor Val Bell told South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court his ex-partner was not responsible for the call, but one of her relatives may have been.

Prosecutor Paul Anderson said: “He came before the court on June 12 and pleaded guilty in respect of battery and criminal damage.

“A restraining order was imposed which prevents him from entering any property where he knows her to be and not to threaten or harass this lady.

“On Sunday he made contact with her. He went to Freemantle Road to see their son. She did agree to that.

“He went around to the address, which put him in breach of the order. A couple of hours later he left the property.

“While there’s an element of the complainant facilitating the breach, he was the one who made the initial contact.”

During the hearing the Probation Service described Tickner as being of “high risk of harm” to the woman.

Ms Bell told the court there had been confusion on the part of Tickner and his ex-partner about what a restraining order was.

She said: “It’s clear that she has invited him around and that Father’s Day presents had been purchased for him.

“She has not ruled out the possibility that their relationship may resume.”

Tickner was re-sentenced to a 24-month community order with 30 days of rehabilitation work with the Probation Service and he must take the Building Better Relationships programme.

He was given an extra 120 hours of unpaid work, taking his total to 270 hours, which includes 150 hours from his original sentence, and pay a £95 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

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