jrobertson
06-06-08, 10:40 AM
www.sunderlandecho.com (http://www.sunderlandecho.com) - Sunderland Echo - 6 Jun 2008
Noisy sex neighbour avoids jail sentence (http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/Noisy-sex-neighbour-avoids-jail.4145053.jp)
A man who threatened a neighbour after she complained about late-night rows and noisy sex has been spared jail.
Stuart Griffiths approached the woman outside her Sunderland home after she took issue about loud music, shouting and "embarrassing noises".
He went on to threaten her and another neighbour who intervened.
Sunderland Magistrates' Court heard yesterday that Griffiths, 33, had been a visitor to the house where his partner lived for more than two years prior to the incident on July 9.
Prosecutor Helen Wareham said the victim lived next door with her sister and mother and was often kept awake by the defendant and his partner rowing and "embarrassing noises of sexual intercourse".
After one incident, Griffiths, now of Beaufort Close, Penshaw, accosted the family and accused them of leaving their radio on loud to upset his partner.
The court also heard he had assaulted a David Smith who gave him work as a builder, after the pair rowed about the standard of work.
"Griffiths became aggressive, threatening to pull the work down and suggested they go into a garage so he could beat him up.
"Then Mr Smith felt a punch to the left side of his face with an uppercut. The defendant apologised to the point of shaking his hand and asked him if he was going to call the police."
Again he denied the charge, and was found guilty in his absence.
Defence solicitor Tony Southwick said as far as his client was concerned, the woman he threatened was haranguing his partner, and he stepped in to defend her.
He also claimed the second victim had asked to do building work which didn't have planning permission.
Griffiths met him to collect some money and an argument broke out.
"He was in his face, and he did push out at the man rather than punching him, but does accept that he struck him."
Magistrates heard Griffiths was now a father of two and struggling to cope with debts.
He had missed his trial after he was offered work in Swindon and was unable to get back to Sunderland.
Magistrates said Probation Service reports showed Griffiths had an "abysmal" record in responding to community orders, and handed down two four-month sentences, suspended for two years, to run concurrently.
For failing to surrender, he was given a four-week suspended sentence, also to run concurrently.
Magistrates ordered he pay £75 compensation to the assault victim. No separate order for costs was made.
Noisy sex neighbour avoids jail sentence (http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/Noisy-sex-neighbour-avoids-jail.4145053.jp)
A man who threatened a neighbour after she complained about late-night rows and noisy sex has been spared jail.
Stuart Griffiths approached the woman outside her Sunderland home after she took issue about loud music, shouting and "embarrassing noises".
He went on to threaten her and another neighbour who intervened.
Sunderland Magistrates' Court heard yesterday that Griffiths, 33, had been a visitor to the house where his partner lived for more than two years prior to the incident on July 9.
Prosecutor Helen Wareham said the victim lived next door with her sister and mother and was often kept awake by the defendant and his partner rowing and "embarrassing noises of sexual intercourse".
After one incident, Griffiths, now of Beaufort Close, Penshaw, accosted the family and accused them of leaving their radio on loud to upset his partner.
The court also heard he had assaulted a David Smith who gave him work as a builder, after the pair rowed about the standard of work.
"Griffiths became aggressive, threatening to pull the work down and suggested they go into a garage so he could beat him up.
"Then Mr Smith felt a punch to the left side of his face with an uppercut. The defendant apologised to the point of shaking his hand and asked him if he was going to call the police."
Again he denied the charge, and was found guilty in his absence.
Defence solicitor Tony Southwick said as far as his client was concerned, the woman he threatened was haranguing his partner, and he stepped in to defend her.
He also claimed the second victim had asked to do building work which didn't have planning permission.
Griffiths met him to collect some money and an argument broke out.
"He was in his face, and he did push out at the man rather than punching him, but does accept that he struck him."
Magistrates heard Griffiths was now a father of two and struggling to cope with debts.
He had missed his trial after he was offered work in Swindon and was unable to get back to Sunderland.
Magistrates said Probation Service reports showed Griffiths had an "abysmal" record in responding to community orders, and handed down two four-month sentences, suspended for two years, to run concurrently.
For failing to surrender, he was given a four-week suspended sentence, also to run concurrently.
Magistrates ordered he pay £75 compensation to the assault victim. No separate order for costs was made.