Locations
Troutbeck Way, Peterlee, Durham, SR8
Description
A man was jailed for repeatedly breaching a restraining order by messaging his ex-partner and turning up at her house, usually uninvited.
William Jenkinson also failed to inform police of a change of address, in breach of the terms of his notification requirements as a sex offender, when he briefly formed a relationship with another woman earlier this year.
The 40-year-old defendant of Troutbeck Way, Peterlee, appeared before Durham Crown Court for sentence after previously admitting ten counts of breaching a restraining order and one of failing to comply with notification requirements.
Paul Cleasby, prosecuting, said the restraining order was put in place at Darlington Magistrates’ Court in March 2023, after Jenkinson was convicted of common assault of his partner at the breakdown of their relationship.
Mr Cleasby said the five-year order was put in place to protect the woman from harassment and from being put in fear of violence at the defendant’s hands.
The victim described her six-year relationship with Jenkinson as “up and down”, saying that on occasions he was verbally abusive to her, but at other times he would tell her it would not happen again.
Mr Cleasby said in spite of the terms of the order, Jenkinson would turn up at her home address and contact her by phone, during which he would sometimes lose his temper.
She was fearful of what he might do and resorted to calling the police.
He was arrested in January this year as he had been going around to her home on and off for about a week at that stage.
She admitted that due to the persistence of his messaging she had invited him around on occasions just to try to appease him.
Despite being subject to bail conditions not to contact his ex-partner, his pattern of behaviour continued, leaving her feeling “vulnerable” and suffering panic attacks.
She said he had destroyed her friendships and family connections and made her feel unworthy, while at times she felt like she was “walking on eggshells” trying not to upset him.
But she said since he has been in custody in recent weeks she has felt some element of relief and a new-found sense of freedom.
Mr Cleasby said the notification offence arose as the defendant briefly moved in with another woman in February and early March this year.
It ended after the police informed her of the defendant’s history and of the court order breaches.
Mr Cleasby said the defendant should have informed his offender manager of the change of address.
The registration requirement was put in place when Jenkinson was jailed for sex offences at Edinburgh High Court, in August 2016.
Calum McNicholas, for Jenkinson conceded it had been “persistent” offending on his client’s behalf.
Mr McNicholas said there was some “back and forth” with the messaging and so the defendant considered there was, “some degree of desired contact.”
He added that the defendant had a traumatic childhood and has his own mental health issues, for which he is only just receiving the correct medication since being in custody.
Recorder Mark Ainsworth said when court orders are put in place it is for the protection of, “others in society” and defendants are expected to abide by their terms.
The Recorder told Jenkinson the responsibility was on him not to breach such orders.
He said not only were the breaches persistent, but they were aggravated by the fact the defendant was on bail after his January arrest and yet continued to flout not only the orders but also, then, his bail conditions.
Imposing a total 22-month prison sentence Recorder Ainsworth reminded Jenkinson that the terms of the orders will remain in place and further breaches would only result