Dad faces jail after breaching court order relating to estranged wife in Sunderland

A hot-headed dad who breached a court order by entering his estranged wife’s Sunderland home when prohibited could be jailed.

Magistrates told Garrith Brown, 43, their sentencing powers of one year’s custody were insufficient and instead sent him to be dealt with by a judge at crown court.

He went to her home on Thursday, January 4, to take their two children swimming in South Shields.

Brown, of Kellsway, Leam Lane, Gateshead, was permitted to approach the gate under the terms of a non-molestation order but to go no further.

But he let himself into the property after first causing a fuss by honking his car’s horn, prosecutor Bushra Begum told magistrates in South Tyneside.

Of a 999 call recording played to the court, Ms Bushra said Brown’s ex-partner could be heard telling police he had “sped off” with their six-year-old son.