“I’ve looked through more prison window bars than Reggie Kray”

Friday 14 October 2016

A 42-year-old homeless man was released from custody today, just two days after he made threats to the Magistrate.

Christopher Hall was facing charges of disorderly behaviour and contempt of court, the latter after he was verbally abusive to Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris on Wednesday.

Hall was freed as he was sentenced to seven days in prison for the disorderly behaviour offence, which he admitted. But Hall had been behind bars since the offence on October 4th, so his sentence had been ‘spent.’

The Magistrate's Court heard Hall made a “sincere apology” for the contempt of court offence and Assistant Magistrate Harris therefore ruled that the charge was purged - allowing Hall to walk free. 

Hall said: “I have spent 30 years in prison and I’ve had over 500 previous sentences. I have looked through more prison bar windows than Reggie Kray and I don’t want go to prison anymore. 

“I am not a criminal but my record is historic. When I was younger I used to hang about with the Mods and skinheads and get into trouble but I don’t do that anymore. 

“Even though my record is terrible I have been misinterpreted throughout the whole of my life. 

“It’s pointless sending me back to prison. I’ll go to La Moye, but nobody should want to go into prison and I don’t. I want to do something with my life by getting a job.   

“My behaviour in town was stupid. I was in King Street shouting and swearing because I’d been punched twice in the face.

“My apology to you is sincere and I can’t say fairer than that.”

Assistant Magistrate Harris said the probation service were willing to help Hall. 

He said: “You are speaking to me very differently to the way you spoke on Wednesday. It is how you behave that is crucial. For the disorderly offence I was going to sentence you to one week in prison but you have already served that. 

“For the contempt, you have given a forthright apology and I accept that. I shall treat the contempt as purged.”

Hall said: “I meant it as well as I don’t normally speak to people like that.”

The Assistant Magistrate added: “Don’t let the probation service down. They will try to help people, where a lot of others have already given up.”

Hall replied: “Thank you for your understanding. You are a nice man.”