A ST Austell man has been jailed after breaching a restraining order imposed on him last year. 

Liam Norman, aged 34, of St Austell, appeared in front of magistrates at Bodmin Law Courts on January 30, 2024 on one count of breaching a restraining order on conviction.

The offence took place on January 28, 2024, when, without reasonable excuse, Norman directly contacted, on four occasions, a female victim, which he was prohibited from doing by a restraining order imposed by Truro Magistrates Court on October 17, 2023. 

Norman indicated a plea of guilty to the offence and, during his sentencing, was handed down a period of imprisonment totalling eight weeks. 

The court noted how the offence had been so serious that only a custodial sentence could be justified given the nature of the offence and Norman's record.

According to the Sentencing Council, the maximum sentence in magistrates’ courts for breach of a restraining order imposed under section 360 of the Sentencing Code is six months’ custody.

The offence range for breaching a restraining order can range between a fine and four years' custody. 

Aggravating factors can include previous convictions, breach committed shortly after the order made, and a history of disobedience to court orders.