Weeping thug jailed for failing to show up in court
ATHUG who beat his sister and attacked a pet dog complained he was being targeted by gangsters.
Ryan Edwards hurled a terrified Staffordshire bull terrier against a wall at his family’s home in Southport.
The yob, then 19, dragged the dog by the collar, picked her up by the head and threw her 4ft.
When challenged by his sister, he yelled “do you want me to f***ing t*** you as well?” and punched her to the head.
Edwards, of Alexandra Road, Southport, was locked up for six months in September 2016 for the attack on his sister.
But last Wednesday he sobbed as he begged not to be sent back to jail and claimed he was living in fear.
Edwards, formerly of Birleywood, Skelmersdale, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal in October 2016. Magistrates jailed him for 28 days, concurrent with the sixmonth sentence, meaning he served no additional time in prison.
Edwards, now 23, was convicted of dangerous driving in February this year and given 15 months in prison, suspended for 18 months.
He was then also given 200 hours’ unpaid work and told to attend a rehabilitation activity requirement and Thinking Skills programme.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that he completed just 44 hours of unpaid work, skipped supervision meetings and had not started either course.
David Watson, prosecuting, said Edwards failed to attend unpaid
work sessions on May 4 and June 1, so was summoned to court.
He didn’t show up on August 5 and a warrant was made for his arrest, which was executed when police caught him seven days later.
Edwards, who was then remanded in custody, pleaded guilty to breaching his suspended sentence and failing to surrender.
Since February he has also been fined for having a dog, in breach of an order made in 2016, which banned him from keeping pets.
Jamie Baxter, defending, said his client’s attendance at unpaid work sessions was generally good until a “drop off ” in June and July. He said Edwards had been waiting to start the Thinking Skills course, but at that stage decided to “take himself out of the area”.
Mr Baxter said: “There is a background to this mentioned in the probation report papers. Mr Edwards was affiliated with an organised crime gang in his area.
“He has sought to remove himself from that group but as is often the case, certainly with someone of his age and in my respectful submission vulnerability, it’s difficult to do so.
“The probation report suggests he’s been seen interacting with these people. Mr Edwards offers the explanation that is because they are following him.
“Since his incarceration, his girlfriend has been contacted by members of this group.”
Judge Louise Brandon said it appeared the probation service had “bent over backwards” to assist Edwards by changing the dates of unpaid work.
Mr Baxter accepted this, but said: “These people aren’t pleased with him trying to absent himself from the area.
“He has a young son, four months old, and a partner and his incarceration has had an extremely salutary effect on him.
“His intention is to leave the area, I think, of Southport and move to Preston.”
“He doesn’t want to have any external pressure from the people he used to associate with.
Mr Baxter added: “He’s quite adamant he no longer associates with these people.
“He had expressed some concerns about his safety in prison because of what people had told him.”
Mr Baxter asked for “one last chance” for Edwards, who he said had told him: “I will do anything that the judge tells me to do.”
However, Judge Brandon replied: “The problem with that is the last judge told him to do this order and he didn’t do it.”
Mr Baxter said the opportunity for Edwards to work with the Probation Service would be better for society than “a relatively short prison sentence”.
Edwards cried throughout the hearing and sat with his hands clasped in prayer as Judge Brandon passed sentence.
The judge said the probation service had made “effort after effort” to help him, but his level of compliance was “appalling”.
She said: “The probation service can’t keep bending over backwards to help you when you won’t help yourself.”
Judge Brandon said that he treated unpaid work as something he could do when he wanted, adding: “You clearly can’t be bothered.”
Edwards sobbed as she jailed him for nine months.