Defendants often leave court with a suspended sentence, a chance to change their ways. Judges must balance sending someone straight to prison against allowing them to rehabilitate in the community. Sentences of up to three years can now be suspended. If a defendant given that chance commits another crime, they can be jailed for the new offence and the original one as well. Figures show that about 25 per cent of offenders handed a suspended jail term fail to complete it or reoffend. The following Devon criminals were given a lucky break in the last 12 months but blew their opportunity to reform.
A Devon man who plagued the Bideford community with repeated anti-social behaviour was jailed just days after being given a chance to behave himself. Robert Tellem, from Bideford, was originally sentenced to 52 weeks in prison at a hearing at Exeter Magistrates' Court, suspended for 12 months, and was given a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) to "assist police with his problematic behaviour". This came after the 29-year-old pleaded guilty to one count of violence to secure entry, three counts of assault by beating, and one count of common assault. Tellem also admitted two counts of assaults on emergency workers, one count of criminal damage, one count of damage to police property, and 11 counts of theft from a shop.
Despite the CBO being in place, Tellem was again arrested last week and was remanded into custody for being within the exclusion zone, being drunk in a public place, and behaving in a way that is intimidating or threatening to any person. He appeared in court on September 2 and was sentenced to another 10 weeks in jail, totalling 62 when added to the original 52 suspended sentence, which was activated after his arrest. Neighbourhood Beat Manager, PC Laura Hancock-Smith said: "Tellem was subject to clear conditions designed to prevent behaviour that could cause fear, distress or disruption to communities within North Devon. Despite this, he chose to breach several of the conditions, leaving us with no option but to take enforcement action. This sentence demonstrates that breaches of court orders will not be tolerated. We are committed to ensuring North Devon remains a safe and welcoming place for residents, businesses and visitors, and we will continue to work proactively to deal with people who have a negative impact on our communities."
A drug-trafficking pensioner spent his 70th birthday in prison after wasting a chance to change his ways. Anthony Eaton was caught with a quarter kilo of heroin after being stopped by police on the M5. He faced prison when he appeared before the court earlier this year but the judge was persuaded to give him a chance after being told he got mixed up with dealers after his son died. Eaton returned to court after breaking the terms of his suspended sentence by not working with probation and breaching a domestic violence protection order. The judge said he had no choice but to jail him for 18 months. Eaton, from Paignton, was a passenger in a car stopped near Cullompton in April 2023, a previous hearing was told. A £25,000 package of heroin was found in the central console.
Eight Devon Criminals Jailed After Ignoring Suspended Sentences