Benjamin Hoyles appeared in The Magistrate’s Court on the 17th March to be sentenced for two charges of threatening behaviour of which he was found guilty in February.
He was sentenced to seven months imprisonment suspended for 18 months, ordered to pay £1100 costs and was given a restraining order preventing him from contacting the victims and from using certain facilities at The Stanley leisure centre.
When passing sentence, Senior Magistrate Sarah Whitby said that while she noted Mr Hoyles’ remorse, his “attitudes are warped” and that he sees himself as a “victim.” Ms Whitby went on to say that there were no mitigating factors in this case and that Mr Hoyles was “extremely close to going to prison”. She also urged him to seek help for his mental health issues.
