New dad Denis dodges jail
The defendant was sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.
A dad has dodged jail after twice ‘escaping’ from police. Denis Smith, of Sprinkbank Road, Chell, twice ran away from police and pushed an officer in Smallthorne following a 999 call.
The 22-year-old was captured almost three hours later in a Chell Heath garden.
Nick Tatlow, prosecuting, said: “Police attended an address in Smallthorne at around 4.45pm on June 26 and they saw the defendant run away. Half an hour later he returned and was seen in an alleyway opposite the house. Officers approached him and at 5.20pm they told him he was under arrest but he pushed the officer out of the way and ran off again. Just over two hours later at 7.30pm, the defendant was found hiding in a garden and police arrested him.”
Rashad Mohammed, mitigating, said: “His stupidity on this day has lost his previous good character but he has put his hands up to what he’s done and pleaded guilty. He accepts what he did was wrong. He has already spent eight weeks in custody.
“His partner gave birth on February 20 and they now have a baby boy together and she desires to resume their relationship. He is excited to be a father and wants to do what he can to be the best father he can. He needs to mature very fast and has intentions to do that and he is at a low risk of reoffending.”
Smith pleaded guilty to a charge of escape.
Judge Sally Hancox handed Smith a nine-month community order at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. It includes 10 rehabilitation activity requirement sessions.
She said: “Your reason for running away was because you panicked because you didn’t wish to be locked up. Other matters as to why the police attended at that time have been resolved in your favour.
“Escape is often viewed as a very serious matter, for example if there is an escape from custody or the use of violence and criminals are at large – for sometimes years – but this was nowhere near that serious. I’m told you are somebody for whom life is now changing, things are moving forward positively, and you are maturing and you remain, bar this, of good character.”
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