Dad jailed for failing to turn up for unpaid work (From Worcester News)

Dad jailed for failing to turn up for unpaid work

2:50am Saturday 13th March 2010 in

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A 22-year-old father has been jailed for not showing up for unpaid probation work.

Daniel Clark, of Lilac Avenue, Tolladine, Worcester, had twice been warned by the probation service after failing to turn up to complete a total of 200 hours’ work.

He was told to carry out the unpaid work last March after assaulting his then partner.

Probation officer Dick Schwab told deputy district judge Nigel Hodkinson that Clark had done 31 hours of his term but had had time off with a shoulder injury, totting up two warnings last year.

A doctor’s note that had excused Clark from work ran out at the start of the year, and he had not replaced it.

“A sick note was provided initially but he has provided no other,” said Mr Schwab “Then twice in January he did not attend and didn’t contact the work programme manager. He last turned up for work on December 17. He had initially been motivated but of late that has waned.”

Judge Hodkinson told Clark’s solicitor Rob Macrory that after his “third breach” his client was facing jail.

Mr Macrory said: “Because of his injury, the fact remains he could not have completed the work. The only thing he’s done wrong is not get in touch.”

He said his client was “petrified” by the thought of going to jail and not being able to see his two young children.

Deputy district judge Hodkinson reminded Clark he’d been told “time and again” about what would happen if he breached his work order and sentenced him to four weeks in jail.

Clark denies a separate charge of punching his ex-partner in the face three times at her home in Cranham Drive, Warndon, on Wednesday, January 13. A trial is set for Monday, March 29.