Man breached restraining roder against ex he assaulted

Blackburn Magistrates’ Court heard the victim had invited Ryan Richards to her home despite the restraining order being made after he was convicted of assaulting her.

Richards, 35, of Rigby Avenue, Blackrod, Bolton, pleaded guilty to breach of a restraining order.

He was sentenced to eight weeks in prison and ordered to pay a £154 victim surcharge on release.

Graeme Tindall, prosecuting, said the restraining order had been imposed in January when Richards had been jailed for an assault on his partner.

He was released from prison on March 17.

Mr Tindall said officers were in Henry Street, Blackburn, when they saw Richards with his ex-partner.

They made some checks and then went to her address in Hope Street. She said it had not been Richards she was with, but officers found him in the house.

“He will say he was invited there and I can’t dispute that,” said Mr Tindall.

“However, it is still a breach of an order made against him.”

Arslan Younis, mitigating, said Richards had the offer of a job as a mechanic and was looking to turn his life around.

“It was his ex-partner who invited him round, but he understands it is he who has breached the order,” said Mr Younis.