Hartlepool man jailed after sharing house with ex to prevent them both becoming homeless

Thomas Lee Campbell was sentenced to eight weeks in prison for breaching the order for the eighth time.

However, Teesside Magistrates Court, heard how Campbell, 36, of Everett Street, in the town, was put in a difficult position by his former partner who kept leaning on him for support.

Saba Shan, prosecuting, said the restraining order to prevent him contacting his former wife, Michelle Harrison, had been put in place in 2017.

However, the relationship had continued to be on and off and Campbell had been brought before the court previously for seven breaches of it.

She said: “Ms Harrison said the defendant has breached the order many times, but does acknowledge that this is partly due to the fact that she has welcomed him back into her life.”

Ms Shan said in October last year Ms Harrison was struggling to pay the rent and she knew Campbell was homeless with nowhere to go.

She said the pair were given two separate tenancies for the same property so together they could afford the rent.

Ms Shan, reading from Ms Harrison’s statement, said: “It was not ideal. However, I did not want to be out on the street.”

Ms Shan said although Ms Harrison had welcomed Campbell back into her life, the prosecution would say the defendant was fully aware of the restraining order and that is why it is a persistent breach.

Defending, Andrew Teate said: “The defendant has been placed in a difficult position.”

Mr Teate told the court that Campbell felt if he did not support his former partner then he feared something would happen to her and he didn’t want that.

Mr Teate said: “She said in her statement ‘I needed him for support, I don’t have anyone else’.”

Campbell was given an eight-week jail sentence for the breach of the restraining order by magistrates and he was also ordered to pay a £122 surcharge.