Sunderland dad in court after breaching a restraining order days after it was imposed

A Sunderland dad must carry out unpaid work as punishment for breaching the conditions of a non-molestation order just days after it was imposed, a court has ruled.
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Craig Ditch, 32, of Flodden Road, Ford Estate, admitted contacting his former partner twice in three days when he was forbidden from doing so.

Ditch has now been handed an 18-month community order with the main stipulation of 80 hours of unpaid work after being charged with the breach at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.

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District Judge Kathryn Meek told him: “If a court has made an order, the court has made an order and it’s not to be breached.”

South Tyneside Law Courts.  Picture by FRANK REID. South Tyneside Law Courts.  Picture by FRANK REID.
South Tyneside Law Courts. Picture by FRANK REID.

The non-molestation order was imposed on April 24 and Ditch admitted to contacting his former partner twice days later, between Wednesday, April 29, and Monday, May 4, the magistrates’ hearing heard.

Prosecutor Paul Anderson said in one call, Ditch had asked her if she would meet him and go for a “family walk” as he had been trying to rekindle their relationship.

Mr Anderson said Ditch’s romantic overtures were likely to fail and added: “He says that it was his fault because he had had a few beers.

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“There’s an order in place but he’s not taken note, it is said. He’s not heavily convicted.”

Paul McAlindon, defending, said: “He accepts that there was contact on the Friday. He accepts the two calls.”

The court heard the non-molestation order lasts for six months and will expire in October.

As well as being made subject to a community order Ditch, who is temporarily out of work due to a coronavirus-related job cut, must also pay a £94 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.

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