Harworth man faced jail for missed appointments

Mark Taylor, 31, of Galway Mews, admitted breaching a community order made in November last year, when he was sentenced for handling stolen goods, on February 22 and March 7.

Cheryl Nisbet, of the probation service, said: “We are six months into this order with no real contact. He should have contacted us and told us what was going on.”

Melanie Hoffman, mitigating, said: “He has been very honest. He said he forgot because of what was going on at home.”

She said the original offences were committed after Taylor’s hours were cut at work and his home was repossessed last August.

After the order was made, Ms Hoffman said, Taylor’s pregnant partner injured her back, leaving him as the sole carer for his partner and their three children.

In February the child was born prematurely and their landlord sold their home, forcing them to relocate.

“Things were financially very difficult,” she said. “He wasn’t able to work because he was looking after the family.”

Ms Hoffman told the court Taylor had since found a job and was now working seven days a week.

“He got himself back on track but he hasn’t dealt with this appropriately, but I would ask you to have some sympathy, bearing in mind everything that has happened.”

Taylor was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and was ordered to pay £75 in costs.