A MAN who threatened to shoot his own mother and burn down her house has been banned from contacting his family indefinitely or going into the street where they live.
John Wilfred Donald Flanagan, 33, threatened to “get” his mother as she was walking home from Bingo, shoot her and burn down her house, Jane Chadwick, prosecuting, told York magistrates.
Released on bail, he was involved in two violent incidents in the city centre, during one of which he was foaming at the mouth as he swung two wooden batons late at night.
In the other, he injured a police officer trying to arrest him after he had a row with a phone shop owner.
For Flanagan, Cheryl Rudden said his behaviour was linked to the drugs he had been taking since he was 11. He had drug induced psychosis and bipolar disorder but was committed to tackling his problems.
A probation officer told the court the incident at the family home on September 9 was one of many when police had been called out to deal with Flanagan there.
Magistrates made a restraining order to last indefinitely, banning him from contacting named members of his family or going into the street where they live.
They also gave him an 18-month community order with 40 days’ rehabilitative activities and ordered him to pay £50 compensation to the police officer and a £85 statutory surcharge. They said they took into account that he had spent two months in custody after he breached his bail conditions by going to the family home.
Flanagan, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to a public order offence committed against his mother on September 6, a public order offence on January 4 in Parliament Street against a stranger, and three charges of obstructing police and one each of possessing cocaine and cannabis on January 9.
Ms Rudden said his time behind bars had given him the chance to reflect on his behaviour and how it affected others. He was desperate to sort himself out and stop living from crisis to crisis, she said.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article