Breached curfew after five days

Jamie Gardner was given a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, at High Peak Magistrates’ Court on February 3 after admitting driving while disqualified for a third time.

Part of the sentence was a four-month curfew between the hours of 7am and 7pm.

But on February 8, the electronic monitoring tag was removed, putting him in breach of his curfew, the court heard.

Gardner, 22, of Kinder Way, Fairfield, admitted breaching a suspended sentence order.

James Riley, defending, said: “The order was really just beginning, the defendant had not had the tag on long.

“He resides at the curfew address with his partner and three children.

“His partner was away for the weekend and left the defendant home alone.

“His friends came round and they began drinking.

“He didn’t really know what was going on or what happened but the tag was removed.

“He didn’t remove it himself but he was certainly in drink so not in a position to take proper and reasonable care of it.

“He has got to be responsible.

“He knows that if he wants to enjoy a drink at home he has got to be sensible and not allow these silly games to take place leading to very serious consequences.

“Since that incident the curfew has been complied with without any further issues or problems.”

Mr Riley added: “The defendant contacted G4s (the monitoring company) of his own volition and they came out the same day to replace the tag.”

Magistrates activated the suspended sentence order but reduced the prison sentence from 16 weeks to 12 because of the time already completed under the curfew.