Reading Magistrates' Court: Newbury man sentenced for non-molestation order breach

A man has been sentenced for repeatedly breaching a non-molestation order.

The 49-year-old had pleaded not guilty to three such charges at a previous hearing at Reading Magistrates’ Court.

But when Mark John Allen, who lives in a flat in Artemis House, London Road, appeared in the dock again in September, he had changed his mind about two of them.

The court heard he now admitted twice breaching the order by going within 100m of a specified address in Gaywood Drive, Newbury.

The prosecution then announced that a third charge – one of breaking the order by texting Emma Cross – would be withdrawn.

The two offences of which Mr Allen was finally convicted were committed on Sunday, March 21, and Monday, March 22.

The court ordered pre-sentence reports to be prepared.

On Tuesday, October 26, magistrates made Mr Allen subject to an 18 month community order and required to complete 120 hours of unpaid community work.

In addition he was ordered to pay £250 costs plus a statutory victim services surcharge of £95.