BILLY GARDINER

KNOWLE WEST MAN WHO BLEW CHANCE FROM JUDGE LANDS HIMSELF IN JAIL

A man from Knowle West was given an opportunity by a judge to avoid incarceration but failed to take it, resulting in his current imprisonment.

In December of the previous year, Billy Gardiner received a suspended prison sentence after being convicted of sharing private photos and videos along with harassment.

During the court hearing at Bristol Crown Court, it was revealed that he violated both his suspended sentence and a restraining order by remaining at an address from which he was prohibited.

The 28-year-old, residing on Novers Park Road, pleaded guilty to breaching the suspended sentence, the restraining order, and committing a public order offence.

Judge Martin Picton sentenced him to 20 months behind bars, including the activation of eight months that had been previously suspended.

On Tuesday, February 22, the judge addressed him directly, stating: "In December, I granted you a chance with a suspended sentence and community-based measures meant to prevent reoffending.

You failed to adhere to the conditions.

This constitutes a serious breach of the restraining order.

Your presence there was wrong, and your decisions were poor." Prosecutor Meabh McGee explained that Gardiner stayed at a banned location, where an argument broke out, prompting police to be called.

Officers subsequently located and arrested him.

Miss McGee noted that Gardiner admitted he was at that address unlawfully, acknowledging to officers, "You got me, I wasn't meant to be there." The court was also informed that Gardiner resisted arrest and made a remark about a police officer in a crude manner, which offended the officer involved.

During questioning, Gardiner denied making any homophobic comments and apologized, clarifying that his remark was not meant personally.