A MAN who breached the terms of a suspended prison sentence was told he has since received the “kick up the backside he needs”.

Judge Ray Singh was addressing defendant Robert Johns, who appeared before Durham Crown Court having admitted breaching the suspended sentence imposed on him earlier this year.

Accused of affray, using insulting words and behaviour, criminal damage, assaulting an emergency worker and escaping lawful custody, the 32-year-old defendant, of Burnhope Way, Startforth, Barnard Castle, changed pleas and admitted the offences on April 23.

He received a total ten-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, but with a requirement to attend rehabilitation activity days overseen by the Probation Service.

Johns was summoned back to crown court after unacceptable absences relating to the rehabilitation sessions.

He admitted failing to attend a planned office appointment without reasonable excuse, in May, and a telephone appointment with the Probation Service, in October.

Johns appeared at the court on November 18 and was told he must adhere strictly to the order.

The case came back before Judge Singh who said he was pleased to see Johns’ compliance has recently improved.

He said: “I’m prepared to test your engagement over the next few months and any further slip-ups and you’ll be facing custody.

“It’s nice to see that you have had the kick up the backside you needed, and you now need to keep that on track.”

He deferred sentence until March 3, with the warning that any further “slip-ups” would lead to the defendant being jailed.

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