“Build on that glimmer of hope and make it a bright light”

Sunday 03 July 2022

A “glimmer of hope” around a 32-year-old man who caused more than £1,600 in damage to a prison cell will hopefully turn into “a bright light”, the Assistant Magistrate has said.

Peter Harris said that positive progress made by Robert Kevin Passman since he was released from custody in March should be allowed to continue.

“But it will only work if you make it happen - the only person who can do that is you,” Mr Harris told Passman in the Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Passman was sentenced for twice damaging his cell at HMP La Moye, including smashing a sink and an observation window, which cost more than more than £1,650 to repair. 

He had been previously convicted for damaging his cell in October 2021, for which three months had been added to his sentence. 

However, this time the Court agreed with defence counsel Advocate Mike Preston that the encouraging progress made by Passman should not be stopped.

“As well as his guilty pleas, remorse, accepting responsibility for what he has done and paying for damage, my client has engaged with professionals and is determined not to reoffend,” said Advocate Preston.

“He has secured accommodation and has used his time positively, and I ask that the Court helps to encourage further positive progress.”

Advocate Preston said that last December and January, when the two counts of malicious damage were committed, had been particularly stressful for his client, which had included coping with the death of a close family member.

“I want you to build on that glimmer of hope and make it a bright light,” said Mr Harris, before putting Passman on probation for six months.

“I hope that works - it is down to you,” he said. “A Probation Order is work and you have to make the appointments worthwhile. 

“You need to be aware that if you breach the order, there is a risk of going back inside.

“You don’t want that and the Prison doesn’t want that. Make it work.”

Passman was also ordered to pay £400 in compensation.