Dad who breached court order is jailed
A SECURITY guard who was spared prison three months ago has now been locked up for his “extraordinary” failure to comply with a court order.
Christopher Squires was given a fourmonth jail term, suspended for two years, on August 1 after he pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and perverting the course of justice.
At that hearing, Judge Patrick Curran QC said: “[The defendant] deserves to go to prison but, if he goes straight to prison, it is going to punish his family. It will deprive them of their breadwinner.”
Cardiff Crown Court heard the 28-yearold from Kenilworth Court in Fairwater has a partner and two young children.
Prosecutors previously said he was driving a Renault Clio in Heol Pant y Deri in Ely on September 9 last year when he was stopped by a police officer.
The defendant admitted he did not have insurance and gave his brother Michael Squires’ name and date of birth.
His brother was fined £600 in the magistrates’ court in his absence and given six penalty points on his driving licence.
The offending came to light when his insurance company asked Michael Squires why he had failed to declare the points.
Christopher Squires admitted what he had done, saying he “panicked”.
He was given a suspended sentence and fined £250, as well as being ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and 19 “thinking skills” sessions.
His case was re-listed before Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke yesterday, after he breached the order.
Ieuan Bennett, for the Probation Service, said the defendant had failed to attend several appointments and had not even tried to explain why.
He said: “According to the breach report, the Probation Service take the view his commitment is so poor the court should consider activating the sentence.”
The court heard he had nine unacceptable absences and had 76 hours of unpaid work left to do.
Mr Bennett said the Probation Service had made arrangements to accommodate his shift patterns, but he had missed further appointments since the breach proceedings started.
He added the defendant had a “lengthy” criminal record, having been before the courts for 39 previous offences, including failures to comply with court orders.
Emma Harris, for Christopher Squires, said he had missed some appointments due to a family bereavement and tried to contact the probation officer, but could not get through.
She said on another occasion there had been a burglary and the defendant, a security guard, could not leave work to attend his appointment.
Ms Harris told the court her client would prioritise the unpaid work if he was given another chance.
Judge Lloyd-Clarke said: “You are a man who knows full well that orders of the court are to be obeyed.
“Your lack of commitment has been really quite extraordinary.”
She said there was “no point” in continuing with the suspended sentence, as he was not going to comply.
She jailed him for three months.