A court has heard how a Carlisle man fled like comic book hero The Flash after being caught by police visiting his mum in breach of a strict court order.
Josh Smith, 24, was made the subject of a restraining order in late November 2021, during a magistrates’ court hearing. This banned him from attending Deer Park Road in the city for 12 months.
But on November 7 this year, just three weeks before the restraining order was due to expire, Smith found himself back in hot water after police went to his mother’s address to conduct an unconnected welfare check upon her.
After an officer knocked on the front door, Smith could be seen looking out of a first floor window. Police entered and learned he had exited the property through a window on the first floor.
Police returned at 9-30pm the same day and once again Smith could be seen peering out of the same first floor room as earlier.
He was arrested and, from the dock at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court this morning, pleaded guilty to two restraining order breaches in respect of the two unlawful visits.
Defence lawyer Ant Wilson told the court of Smith: “The first time the officers spotted him in the window he made a bolt for it. He was off like The Flash. The second time he thought the game was up.”
Smith, latterly of Spencer Street, Carlisle, had been homeless at the time and in light of that situation had been allowed to visit the address by his mother. She had not co-operated with the prosecution. However, Smith had since settled down, had a girlfriend and was in work.
Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order comprising 100 hours’ community service and 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
