South Shields man spared jail due to coronavirus guidelines limiting sending criminals to prison

An impoverished son who breached an indefinite restraining order by turning up his dad’s home to ask for cash has avoided being jailed – due to coronavirus court guidelines.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

District Judge Sarah Griffiths told Daniel Taylor, 29, of Winskell Road, Simonside, South Shields, he was only being spared due to national recommendations to limit the number of imprisonments.

She said current advice was for only the most urgent offences to get jail time, adding: “If it wasn’t for that, I would have had no hesitation in sending you to custody.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I’m going to give you one last chance, but I hope it’s clear to you that it’s your last chance. There won’t be a second chance.”

South Shields Magistrates' Court. South Shields Magistrates' Court.
South Shields Magistrates' Court.

South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard Taylor turned up at his father’s home in Stoker Avenue, Simonside, on Wednesday, May 27.

He drew sympathy by showing wounds from a recent attack that had left him with 14 stitches to his face – and was given £40.

But by both approaching his dad and being at his home, Taylor breached a restraining order, imposed in December 2012.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The court was told it was his first breach and his visit had been entirely peaceable.

Prosecutor John Garside said: “His father has heard a voice from the back of his house, and it was the defendant asking him for money. He’s felt sorry for him and gave him £40.”

Michelle Stonley, defending, said: “He was of the view that the order had expired.

“He accepts that he went around to his parents’ house and went in the garden and asked for £40.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“He had no money because he had lost his bank card and had no money for food.

“There was no violence or threats of violence, he immediately left the area. His dad felt sorry for him because of his eye.”

The court heard Taylor is due to face trial on June 30 at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on an allegation of assaulting his father.

He was rebailed on condition he does not approach his parent, does not breach the restraining order and resides at his home address.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

How to subscribe to the print edition

It’s easy to subscribe to your local newspaper. We have arranged a special 20 per cent off subscription offer for people to take advantage of. Visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk, choose the newspaper title, the type of subscription and enter your details.