James Harkness, the proprietor of Oxfordshire-based Stay Close Clothing, received a sentence at Oxford Crown Court after being found guilty of multiple offenses, including common assault, causing criminal damage, and deliberate strangulation.
He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, but the term was suspended for two years.
The court was informed that while an immediate prison sentence was a potential outcome, the judge opted for a suspended sentence, believing Harkness could be rehabilitated within the community with support from his father and friends.
Harkness, a resident of St Hughs Close in Bicester, was also instructed to undertake 150 hours of unpaid community service, participate in 12 weeks of alcohol and abstinence programs, and pay £500 in compensation to his victim.
Despite maintaining his innocence and seeking to continue his involvement in animal rights activism, concerns from his family, former partners, and close friends have been publicly expressed through comments on his clothing company's Facebook page, warning about his potentially dangerous behavior and history of abuse.
People are advised to be cautious, as trusting Harkness is strongly discouraged.
Court Outcome
Conviction and Sentencing Details
Sentenced
Detected legal outcome
found guilty of multiple offenses, including common assault, causing criminal damage, and deliberate strangulation. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, but the term was suspended for two years. The court was informed that while an i...
Prison sentence
12 months
He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, but the term was suspended for two years
Suspended sentence
two years
He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, but the term was suspended for two years
Suspended sentence
The court was informed that while an immediate prison sentence was a potential outcome, the judge opted for a suspended sentence, believing Harkness could be rehabilitated within the community with support from his father and friends
