Sunderland man lashed out at court door after being jailed

Jordon Heron, 30, raised his voice and lashed out in anger after District Judge Zoe Passfield jailed him at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.

She jailed him for eight weeks for driving while disqualified and to six consecutive weeks for failing to provide a sample for analysis.

Heron, of Hyde Street, Hendon, refused to provide a sample of blood to be tested for drink or drugs when stopped at the roadside in February.

When sentenced for that offence in April, he was banned from driving for 17 months and handed a 12-month community order.

But on Monday, December 8, he was pulled over by police as he illegally drove a Vauxhall Astra in The Green, in Sunderland’s Southwick area,

After jailing him for that, Judge Passfield revoked the community order, replacing it with the six-week term for failing to provide.

Earlier, in a report, the Probation Service had told her Heron was complying poorly with the order.

Of the driving while disqualified offence, prosecutor Marcus Blakelock said: “The defendant was witnessed by an officer who immediately recognised him.

“He was stopped and said that he was on his way to a pet shop with his partner.”

Heron, who has 20 previous convictions from 30 offences, pleaded guilty to charges of driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

Paul Oxnard, defending, insisted Heron had been driving to a pharmacy to get medication rather than to a pet shop.

Mr Oxnard added: “His partner was with him. He asked a number of people to take him. He needed his antipsychotic medication.

“No one would take him, and he made a bad decision to drive, and he was stopped on the way.

“He appears before the court for the first time for these matters and admits the offences.

“There has been a downturn in his convictions and the amount of times he has appeared before the courts.

“The fact that he has a family now has made a substantial difference. He’s dealing with a lot of matters.”

Heron must pay a £154 victim surcharge.