Teenager told to provide evidence of illness by court

A‘FECKLESS’ teenager who was told by a judge two months ago to stop lounging around and sponging off his mum has flouted the terms of his sentence - but did not turn up at court today to face the music.

Jacob Soskin, 19, sent a message saying he was unable to attend Gloucester Crown Court because of ‘sickness and diarrhoea.’

Soskin, of Silas Court, Cheltenham, received a community order on August 31 for having a knife in public and using threatening words and behaviour.

He was due before Judge Michael Cullum for allegedly breaching his order but did not show up.

“His mother has just called the court office, and says he has sickness and diarrhoea,” said Judge Cullum. “It may be that he is concerned!”

“He would be justified in that view,” replied Jason Coulter, defending.

The judge said he was “fantastically disappointed that he is alleged to be in breach. It is a significant breach.”

The court heard that Soskin was 18 when he committed the offence in Hesters Way Road in May this year.

“There was an argument with a man who was some way involved with his mother,” Mr Coulter told the judge.

“His offending was motivated by an overactive desire to protect his mother.

The judge said: “The options are custody or a mother of all talkings to.

“The best he could hope for is an adjournment to put in an effort, as it would take some convincing that he will do this order.

“I am surprised and disappointed that he has breached it.

“I will adjourn at this stage, I will not issue a warrant, although I could do.

The judge said that Soskin must provide evidence of the sickness that prevented his attendance at court today and a ‘good plan to sort this out’ at the next hearing fixed for November 6.

On August 31 when Soskin was sentenced, Judge Graham Cottle told Soskin: “You are leading a feckless existence. You are sitting around sponging off your mother and drinking too much. It needs to stop and if it doesn’t stop you will end up in custody.

“Take control of your life. Go out and get a job. Do something useful!”