Drunk homeless man broke South Shields restraining order after drink 'spiked'

A homeless South Tyneside electrician has been handed a suspended prison term for breaching a restraining order by visiting his mum.

Michael Wright, 35, was sentenced to eight weeks behind bars – suspended for 18 months – after confessing to the crime.

He turned up at her door in Lumley Avenue, Horsley Hill, South Shields, at 9am on Sunday, October 20, borough magistrates heard.

In court, Wright’s solicitor claimed his drink had been spiked and he had been packed off to the address by worried bar staff.

But by being at her abode, he breached a two-year restraining order, under which he can call on her only with her explicit prior permission.

After his visit, police were contacted and he confessed to having been there when found nearby, prosecutor Paul Anderson said.

Mr Anderson added: “The two-year restraining order was put in place on July 19th.

“Officers attended Lumley Avenue and spoke to the defendant’s mum.

“She told officers her son had not long left the address and that there was an order in place that didn’t allow him to attend unless specifically asked to.

“Officers located him and asked him if he had been there. He said that he had been.

“He said he had had an episode at hospital, and he had nowhere else to go.

“He also said he knew there was a restraining order and that he had breached it. He was pretty candid.”

Wright, who was jailed for eight weeks in September for shoplifting, pleaded guilty to a charge of breaching a restraining order.

The court was told he owes £12,505 in compensation payments from previous offending, which is being paid back from his benefits at £5 a week.

Alastair Naismith, defending, said: “He says that he had been spiked and had been running around South Shields for a bit.

“He turned up in a bar and was put in a taxi by the bar to his mum’s address.”

Magistrates told Wright his breach was “deliberate” as he must have told the taxi driver where his mum lived.

But they conceded no harm had been caused and no threats made.

They ordered him to pay a £154 victim surcharge but no court costs.

When quizzed why he had begun offending a year ago, Wright said he had turned to drugs to cope with a heavy workload.

Wright, who is seeking help for his drug use, added: “I’m in a very deep hole at the moment.”