Banned dad breached order by visiting his ex
FOUND SMOKING CIGARETTE IN HER GARDEN
A DAD who was banned from contacting his ex-girlfriend was found by police having a cigarette in her garden.
Nicholas Muckle was made subject of a restraining order, which prohibited him from communicating with his former partner or attending the Killingworth street where she lived, after he was convicted of assaulting her in October last year. However, just two months later and despite also being on a community order, the 26-year-old couldn’t resist temptation and turned up at her address, a court was told.
Officers soon attended after they received a report of a disturbance at the property and found Muckle in the back garden. It was quickly established he was subject to a restraining order and he was arrested, prosecutors said.
Now, Muckle, of Rowanberry Road, in Longbenton, has been given his second community order in just 10 months and must do 120 hours of unpaid work after he appeared at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court to plead guilty to breaching a restraining order.
He must also pay £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.
Prosecutor Marc Atkins said police attended the victim’s address in Killingworth on December 15 last year after reports of a disturbance. Mr Atkins continued: “When they enter the property, the defendant is found in the back garden. They conducted checks and the restraining order comes to light.
“The defendant admitted being subject to the order. He was interviewed and admitted the breach in interview.
“The defendant was made subject of the restraining order in October last year following a convictions for battery and harassment of the injured party. The order remains in place until 2024.”
The court heard that Muckle had been invited to the house by the victim to discuss their young son.
Stuart Athey, defending, added: “He went over, her friend then came over and some alcohol was consumed. He doesn’t remember a disturbance.
“He was outside talking to a neighbour and having a cigarette when police arrived.”