A man who spent a weekend in custody after turning up at court apparently drunk earlier this year is taking steps to reduce his drinking, his latest hearing was told.

Ryan Piggford was remanded in custody by a judge at Durham Crown Court over a weekend in June having appeared unsteady on his feet when he arrived for a plea hearing for an alleged burglary at his former partner’s home in August last year.

As he was sober and in cogent condition on his return to court he was granted bail on condition that he would be remanded in custody if he appeared at his next hearing in a drunken state.

He complied with the judge’s wishes when he appeared at the court for trial in August, when a formal not guilty verdict was passed after the prosecution offered “no evidence” in the case as Crown witnesses failed to attend for the hearing.

Read more: Drunk defendant at Durham court in no fit state to follow proceedings

Piggford was back before the court today (Monday October 3) to be sentenced for harassment of his former partner in the days after the alleged burglary, in August last year, an offence he admitted.

Matthew Hopkins, prosecuting, said between August 8 and 13, 2021, she received a series of unwanted calls from Piggford using a withheld number.

In the calls he was threatening to come to her home to punch holes in her and her new partner.

Mr Hopkins said there were 20 missed calls from the defendant, who left seven further messages of a similar threatening nature.

When police spoke to him, Piggford accepted having made the calls and he told officers he regretted it and he knew he should have not have done so.

The court heard the 39-year-old defendant, formerly of Church Street, Ferryhill, but now said to be living in North Shields, has ten convictions for 12 offences, the last of which was for criminal damage and shoplifting in 2017.

Asked if there was to be an application for a restraining order in the case, Mr Hopkins said the complainant does not seek to have one imposed.

Read more: Defendant told to appear at court in August sober or he'll be remanded in custody again

Rebecca Brown, for Piggford, said the Probation Service recommended, “an onerous order” be put in place, to include an alcohol treatment requirement.

“There was an early guilty plea, there has been a time lapse since the offence and he’s been on bail and met the requirements.

“He’s now moved out of the area and has a new partner who is a positive influence on him.”

She added that he has been voluntarily working with an agency in his new home area, in North Tyneside, to address his drink problem.

Judge James Adkin told Piggford said the offending amounted to, “a campaign of intimidation” against his former partner, behaviour he does not appear to have engaged in previously.

He said given the time lapse since the offences and the work the defendant has done on his own behalf to try to curb his drinking, he could impose a 12-month community order.

But, during that time, he must complete 35 rehabilitation activity days with the Probation Service, undergo a six-month alcohol treatment requirement and attend a “building better relationships” course.

Judge Adkin added: “If you engage in behaviour like this again, you will face a custodial sentence.”

Read next:

               Jailing of man for prolonged attack among cases sentenced at Durham Crown Court in recent days

               Four County Durham criminals hauled before Durham Crown Court last week

               County Durham man jailed for knife threats and assaulting his mother

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