JORDAN BLACK OF WORKINGTON JAILED FOR STRANGULATION AND FALSE IMPRISONMENT IN KESWICK

A resident of Workington, Jordan James Black, has been sentenced to eight months in prison after being found guilty of serious criminal offenses that took place in Keswick. The incidents involved the unlawful detention and physical assault of a woman, and the case has drawn significant attention due to Black’s prior criminal history and the circumstances surrounding the offenses.

Black, aged 25 and residing on Napier Street in Workington, was initially scheduled to stand trial at Carlisle Crown Court. He faced multiple charges, including unlawfully imprisoning a woman and engaging in non-fatal strangulation. Additionally, he was accused of falsely imprisoning a second female victim. These allegations stemmed from events that occurred at a residence in Keswick on the 21st of February this year.

During the proceedings, Black initially denied all charges, maintaining his innocence. However, before the trial commenced, he received an indication from Recorder Tony Hawks regarding the potential sentence he could face if he chose to admit guilt. Acting on this advice, Black changed his pleas to guilty on all three counts. The indication of sentencing was sought by his legal representative, Olivia Beesley, to help Black understand the consequences of his decision.

The case was further complicated by the fact that Black was already serving a suspended sentence, which was imposed at the same court in February of the previous year. That earlier sentence was for threatening another individual with an offensive weapon, specifically a claw hammer, during an incident in Cockermouth. During that event, Black had displayed aggressive behavior, swinging the weapon towards another man while subjecting him to mental abuse and expressing a desire to fight.

Following the guilty pleas, Recorder Hawks imposed an immediate prison sentence of eight months for the 2023 offenses. Additionally, he activated nine months of a previously suspended eighteen-month sentence, which had been imposed for the earlier incident involving the hammer. These sentences are to be served consecutively, resulting in a total of 17 months behind bars.

In his sentencing remarks, Recorder Hawks highlighted Black’s extensive criminal record, which includes a history of violent acts and dishonesty. The judge described Black’s list of previous convictions as “shocking,” emphasizing the seriousness of his recent conduct and the need for a firm custodial response to protect the public and uphold justice.