Newbury man Ryan Barton showed ‘flagrant disregard’ for restraining order

A man has narrowly avoided going to prison for breaching a restraining order.

Ryan Barton was given a suspended sentence instead when he appeared in the dock at Reading Magistrates’ Court last December 30.

The 40-year-old, of Queens Road, Newbury, admitted breaching a non-molestation order imposed last March by Reading Family Court on December 28 last year.

He further admitted breaching a restraining order imposed last March by Reading Crown Court by messaging and video messaging a woman on December 28 last year.

Barton, who was legally represented at the hearing by Martin Hennessy, was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Magistrates said a custodial sentence, albeit suspended, was necessary “because the defendant has a flagrant disregard for court orders, because of his previous record and character and the impact on the victim”.

In addition, they ordered Barton to pay £85 costs, plus a statutory victim services surcharge.