A man spared an immediate jail sentence in April for controlling behaviour breached his suspended sentence order – by moving in with his new girlfriend.
Joshua Pitter, 22, had been required to live at address approved by the probation service under the terms of his 22 month suspended sentence imposed after he admitted controlling and coercive behaviour against his then girlfriend, affray, assault by beating and fraud.
His new partner invited him to move in shortly before she went off to a music festival for the weekend, he told Oxford Crown Court.
The following week he told his probation officer about the move. His new address was not approved by probation, Judge Tom Rochford was told.
Fining him £250 for breaching his suspended sentence, Judge Rochford said: “Don’t put a toe out of line in the future.
“If you’re in any doubt speak to probation about what you can and can’t do.
“But there’s going to come a time when a judge will say we’re going to have to activate this sentence.”
Pitter, who was not represented by a lawyer in the short hearing on Monday morning and spoke in his own defence, was ordered to live at his home in Saywell Crescent, Eynsham. He admitted breaching the suspended sentence order.
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