A Grimsby man has been found hiding in his ex-partner’s loft during the Covid-19 lockdown, after breaching a court order put in place to protect the woman.

Police discovered Joshua George, 25, of Wootton Road, Grimsby, at the property in Hainton Avenue, despite having been handed a domestic violence protection order at Grimsby Magistrates Court.

The restrictions placed upon George were designed to protect a woman from the risk of violence.

He was not supposed to contact her or go to her home.

But when police went to the house on April 13 to check on the situation, he was found hiding in the loft.

He was discovered at 11:30am, and arrested at 12:41pm.

Ernie Lidster, mitigating, told Grimsby Magistrates Court:

“He went to hide in the loft. There is no suggestion of any molestation, threats or any violence or that the complainant was put in fear.

“He realises that he is in the wrong. He has gone round and been staying there again at her request.

“She doesn’t like being alone. She has asked him to go round.

“It’s clear that she has been contacting the defendant and asking him to return to her address.”

District Judge Daniel Curtis said:

“I made this order. You breached it. You went over. There has to be a sanction for people who breach these orders.

“The person for whom this order was designed to protect clearly has little regard for it.”

On one occasion, George revisited the property, giving a false name to the police during a check.

The order was due to expire on the 20th of April. But, having admitted breaching the protection order and ignoring clear warnings from the police, he has subsequently been jailed for seven days.

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