'Just want a home' - South Tyneside man broke restraining order to try collect sleeping bag
A homeless South Tyneside man broke a restraining order in a seemingly desperate attempt to collect a sleeping bag.
A homeless South Tyneside man who “lost everything” due to cocaine use has pleaded with a judge for a place to live during his latest court appearance.
From the dock, Michael Wright, 36, told District Judge Zoe Passfield: “I just want a home, that’s all I want. I just want a roof over my head.”
But he spoke just as she was imposing a suspended prison sentence - allowing him to keep his liberty - and led her to reproach him for interrupting.
At South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, the judge heard Wright was caught in a spiral of offending and being jailed then released.
It means he could be offered no practical help to end that cycle unless freed to work with the Probation Service on his rehabilitation.
Wright found himself back in court for breaching a restraining order by visiting his mum’s South Shields home which he is banned from doing.
He did so on Sunday, April 19, just three days after being freed from his latest prison sentence.
The offender was caged for 14 weeks on Tuesday, March 10, by the same court after admitting six counts of shop theft.
Wright, who owes over £17,000 in past offending debts to the courts, had swiped almost £500 of goods from stores including Tesco and the Co-op.
But on release he went to his mum’s abode to try to get a sleeping bag.
She did not answer the door but recognised his knock and saw him walking away, the court was told
Prosecutor Glenda Beck said: “He was released from custody and went to the address, saying he believed the restraining order had ended.
“There have been 11 domestic abuse call outs from December 2023, in which his mum is the victim in all.
“In July 2025 there was another breach of the restraining order. It is in place until July 8 of this year.
“The prosecution says that this is a deliberate breach. His mum did not make a victim personal statement.”
Wright pleaded guilty to a charge of breach of a restraining order but did so on the basis he believed the order had ended.
Recent court appearances have heard Wright ran his own business but lost his livelihood, home and family after developing a cocaine habit and turning to crime.
Joanne Gatens, defending, said: “He accepts that he must have had paperwork about the restraining order and has made a mistake.
“He simply went to the door and knocked. His mum recognised the knock. He was released on Thursday and then admitted to hospital.
“He then gravitated to his mum’s, as children do. He went for a sleeping bag as he has been homeless for some time.
“He’s never out of custody long enough to apply to South Tyneside Homes. His offending started in 2023. He’s lost everything.”
Judge Passfield jailed Wright for six weeks, suspended for 12 months, and he must complete 25 rehabilitation days and pay a £154 victim surcharge.