Man jailed after breaching restraining order four times

Saturday 10 February 2024

A 39-year-old man who turned up at the home of a woman he was banned from contacting "to cause trouble" has been jailed for ten months.

The Magistrate's Court heard that the incident on Tuesday evening was the fourth time that Scott Leonard Furlong had breached his restraining order.

Furlong had received the order on 17 May 2022, barring him from direct or indirect contact with the woman, after a conviction for malicious damage.

But Advocate Howard Tobias, prosecuting, said Furlong had breached it in December 2022, January last year and October last year – and for the fourth time this week.

He explained that Furlong appeared at the woman's home at 19:50, banged on the door, rang the doorbell, and declared: "I'm here to cause trouble."

Advocate Tobias added that Furlong had “a catalogue of previous offences”.

Advocate Ian Jones, defending, said Furlong had admitted the latest offence immediately, and added that his behaviour was due to alcohol.

“When he is in drink he is a different person,” said Advocate Jones.

But Relief Magistrate Sarah Fitz said prison was unavoidable, telling Furlong: “There have been options in the past to try to give you assistance, but sadly they don’t seem to have helped.

“You are at very high risk of re-offending. There is no alternative to custody.”