Carlisle man jailed for failing to tackle unpaid work imposed by court

Carlisle's magistrates' court side on. It shows the front of the court with the steps and ramp up to the entrance and someone standing outside the court. A car is also parked up to the right of the building — Carlisle’s magistrates’ court. Picture: The Carlisle Kid

A Carlisle man has been jailed for failing to carry out community service he was given following an altercation on a city housing estate.

Liam Daniel Fintoni, 22, and a 48-year-old man were sentenced by a district judge in August last year. After evidence was heard during a trial, both were convicted of a public order offence they had each denied.

It followed a dinnertime incident at Merith Avenue in Botcherby on November 2, 2020.

The older man had been driving, slowed down in traffic and then got out of his vehicle. At this point, he got into an argument with Fintoni, who stated: “I will fight you.”

Both were verbally aggressive before a fight did occur and resulted in the older man sustaining minor injuries. He left the scene after a member of the public intervened.

As part of his punishment, Fintoni was ordered to complete 120 hours’ unpaid work — later increased to 140 for initial poor compliance.

But in December, just days after flouting the community order, Fintoni failed to attend unpaid work sessions on two different dates and had not provided documentary evidence to explain why.

He was produced at Carlisle’s magistrates’ court earlier today after being been arrested last week and spending the weekend in custody.

Fintoni’s lawyer, Mark Shepherd, said he had relocated to the Newcastle area after the relationship with his partner broke down. “He knows what he should have done was contact the probation service to see if there was any prospect of transferring the unpaid work over to the North East,” said Mr Shepherd.

But Fintoni — now the father of a 10-month old child — had not, and in court, he admitted failing to comply with the requirements of his community order.

District Judge John Temperley, who had imposed the initial punishment, re-sentenced the defendant — now of no fixed abode — and instead handed down an immediate six-week prison term.