A man who claimed he breached a court order because he was receiving threats of violence from his ex-partner's family has been jailed.
Nathan Haslam was given a suspended prison sentence and a curfew last year for a violent offence that left a victim with serious injuries.
And after a breach in September, Haslam was given 40 hours of unpaid work as an added punishment.
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But the 23-year-old was hauled back in front of a judge on Wednesday, after again breaching his order by completing only one hour of the unpaid work requirement.
Durham Crown Court heard that Haslam failed to attend appointments on November 12 and December 9, last year, and failed to provide sufficient reasons for doing so.
Chris Morrison, prosecuting, said after failing to attending in November, a "warning letter" was sent to Haslam, before further phone calls and text messages were sent.
He again failed to show up on December 9, but made contact later that month saying he had been "unwell with covid".
Mr Morrison said that Haslam was asked to provide evidence of his supposed positive covid test, but he failed to do so.
The court heard Haslam had been given a 14 month prison sentence, suspended for two years in June, last year, for a section 20 conviction.
The unpaid work requirement was later added.
It was made "abundantly clear" to Haslam that if he failed to attend the unpaid work appointments, he would be sent to prison, the court heard.
Jonathan Gittins, defending, said Haslam had allegedly been receiving "threats" from his ex-partner and her family around the time of the breach.
Mr Gittins said that the area where the appointments were planned, was also where his former partner's father lives, and he had allegedly been dishing out threats of violence towards Haslam.
The court heard Haslam, of Commercial Street, Willington, had "spoken to probation" about the supposed threats.
Mr Gittins added that Haslam was also told there will be "people waiting for him" if he gets sent to prison and that his sister's property had had the windows smashed.
"He asks the court to give him one more chance", Mr Gittins said.
Judge James Adkin, the Recorder of Durham, said it was "disappointing" to see Haslam in the dock again, and jailed him for 12 months.
