A 50-year-old menace has been given a 12 week jail sentence, suspended, for ignoring a court order made after his spree of thefts and abuse.
James Paul Wesley Pearson, of no fixed abode, appeared at Truro Magistrates’ Court recently after breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order on January 5, 2022.
The courts gave Pearson the CBO in November 2021 after stealing two bottles of wine from Truro Co-Op in October, and threatening or abusing another person the following month.
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He was told in November to complete an alcohol treatment programme, rehabilitation activities, and given an electronic curfew as part of the CBO which prevented him from going from certain parts of Truro.
However, on January 5, court regular Pearson breached these conditions by entering Moorfield Car Park, which the CBO covered.
Stephen Lennon, Cornwall Council antisocial behaviour officer for Truro, spotted Pearson and reported the breach to Devon and Cornwall Police.
This is not Pearson’s first brush with the law, having previously been jailed for nine months after stealing a Royal Mail van full of Christmas presents at knifepoint.
Pearson stole the van at Mullion on December 12, 2019, before dumping it outside the Royal Mail sorting office in Helston.
He was pursued by Royal Mail manager James MacDonald, who described Pearson’s erratic driving, swerving and overtaking as he went.
Before that, in September 2018, Pearson was given a first CBO for “yelling obscenities in front of families and children” – and was banned from swearing or drinking in Truro city centre on Sunday, January 7 of that year.
Pearson pleaded guilty to the November CBO breach at Truro Magistrates’ Court on January 6, 2022, and was given a 12 week prison sentence suspended for six months – meaning if he offends again he will be jailed.
He was also ordered to pay a victim services surcharge of £128.
ASB officer Lennon added on Facebook after the sentencing: “Great work from Truro Police Team.
“A persistent offender committing ASB and criminal activity within Truro has been handed a six month prison sentence [sic]. Well done to all involved.”
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