PRESLEY HALLETT SENTENCED TO PRISON IN EXETER FOR COURT ORDER BREACHES

A man from Exeter, Devon, Presley Hallett, aged 44, has been sentenced to prison after repeatedly disregarding court orders to stay away from his former partner. Last year, he was given a second chance by the court following a conviction for violence, and was issued a community order alongside a restraining order that prohibited any contact with the victim. Despite these restrictions, Hallett made frequent visits to her home, attending her residence 11 times between January and February of this year.

Hallett pleaded guilty to harassment by breaching the court order without a legitimate reason and has now received a sentence of two years and eight months in prison. Exeter Crown Court's Judge Stephen Climie commented, “Hallett’s case came before me last August, when he was given a community and restraining order, with a clear indication of an immediate custodial sentence… yet, he chose to visit his ex-partner’s home multiple times, in breach of these orders.”

The judge pointed out that normally, such breaches could result in a starting point of five years in prison, but Hallett’s guilty pleas and cooperation earned him a third discount. It was also noted that Hallett had been warned about the potential for custodial sentencing and ignored these cautions, which ultimately led to his imprisonment.