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Throughout January there has been no shortage of people convicted for various crimes, but
not everyone has to spend time behind bars afterwards.
While some cases are so serious jail time is virtually guaranteed after conviction, others do
not have the same guidelines.
Instead some offenders are granted a suspended sentence or are spared any kind of jail
sentence whatsoever, depending on the crime committed and the punishment the judge
deems adequate.
In this article we have taken a look back through January to find those who were convicted
and sentenced in Essex courts, but were ultimately spared jail.
What is a suspended sentence?
When a court imposes a custodial sentence of between 14 days and two years (or six
months in a magistrates’ court), the court may choose to suspend the sentence for up to two
years.
This means the offender does not go to prison immediately but is given the chance to stay
out of trouble and to comply with up to 12 requirements set by the court.
These include:
doing unpaid work being subject to a curfew undertaking a treatment programme for
alcohol or drugs being subject to a rehabilitation activity requirement
If the offender does not comply with the requirements, or is convicted of another offence
during the suspension period, they are likely to serve the original custodial term in addition
to the sentence they get for the new offence.
Barrie Gable
Gable, also known as Barrie Williams, was spared jail after being found guilty of grooming
underage girls on internet chat rooms.
The 26-year-old from Walton planned to exploit two 14-year-old girls, with a jury finding him
guilty of two counts of inciting a child into sexual activity and one count of possession of
indecent images.
“What is clear from the report and from what could be observed during the trial is that the
defendant has been for some time suffering from depression and anxiety and fragile selfesteem,”
said Mr Hughes, defending.
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“He had to wait for some time for the trial largely because of the various reports being
prepared. The pressure caused him to attempt a serious attempt on his own life.
“He has started to do something about his predicament. He is now taking anti-depressants
and found himself work.”
Gable was handed a 21-month suspended sentence by Judge Christopher Morgan and
ordered to pay costs of £1,000.
He was also placed under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and ordered to attend
rehabilitation courses.
Jon-Joe Knowles Jon-Joe Knowles was handed a suspended sentence
The 22-year-old from Waltham Cross avoided jail after stalking his ex-girlfriend , tracking
visitors who went to her home and causing £10,000 worth of damage to their cars.
The self-employed plumber met his former partner, from Harlow, in December 2016 and
went out on a couple of dates with her.
The relationship didn’t advance beyond that until the pair met again in early 2017. They
dated again until February 14, when the relationship came to an end.
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Knowles "found it difficult" to accept that the relationship had ended and observed and
tracked her from June to November (2017).
During his tracking habits he caused £10,000 worth of damage to four different cars, three
of which were friends of his ex-girlfriend, and one - whom he believed to be a visitor - turned
out to be an innocent neighbour.
One car which was damaged was a new Ford Fiesta which was only a few days old. The
other cars included two other Fiestas and a Range Rover.
Knowles was sentenced to a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, for one
count of causing reason for serious alarm, distress or harassment.
He also received two community requirements for rehabilitation of up to 30 days, as well as
180 hours of unpaid work for the benefit of the community in the next 12 months.
He was sentenced to pay £1,500 in compensation to his ex-girlfriend under the first count,