South Shields man hid in a kitchen cupboard after he breached a restraining order

Terence Smith, 38, is starting six weeks behind bars after being rumbled at the home of his former partner in Copley Avenue, Whiteleas.

He was barred from being at the property – or contacting the woman – under the terms of a restraining order, imposed in May.

But the homeless offender was invited there by her as an act of kindness to “have somewhere warm to rest his head”, his solicitor told borough magistrates.

Smith had been inside for a day when an unnamed witness contacted police to reveal his location.

Prosecutor Jade Houston said: “Officers received a third-party report that the defendant had been seen with the victim.

“He is unable to go into Copley Avenue. The police called at the address, but she said that she was alone.

“She then let them in, and they noticed a cupboard door move in the kitchen. He was hiding inside the cupboard.

“The complainant said that she had invited him round. He has a previous breach of the order. This was a deliberate breach of the order.”

Smith, who has 25 previous convictions from 44 offences, pleaded guilty to a charge of breach of a restraining order.

Mark Styles, defending, said: “He is homeless. She got in touch, and she wants to rekindle the relationship.

“She has spent five or six hours at court today to see how she can dispense with the restraining order.

“She offered him a place to stay when he was homeless - she was being very courteous by offering him a place to stay.

The Shields Gazette’s free newsletters deliver news and sport to your inbox - try them out and sign up for free

“While he’s been there, there’s been no harm and no distress caused, but it is a deliberate breach.

“He made the choice between being homeless or having somewhere warm to rest his head.

“He made full admissions to the police and said that he had been around there for a day or so.”

Magistrates also ordered Smith to pay a £154 victim surcharge. There were no court costs.