"Drug-fuelled” pest who harassed relatives jailed

A “drug-fuelled” pest who breached a restraining order by continuing to harass and threaten his relatives has been put behind bars writes Jon Cooper for the Sheffield Star.

Sheffield Crown Court heard on June 8 how Dominic Hirst, aged 33, of Whitwell Crescent, Stocksbridge, Sheffield, was originally convicted of causing damage and threatening to cause damage concerning his relatives, as well as burgling a pharmacy.

Prosecuting barrister David Hewitt said Hirst had attended his auntie and grandparents’ address and made threats with an axe and he received a five-year restraining order in 2019 but between November 2021 and February 2022, he sent disturbing text messages to his auntie.

Mr Hewitt said: “The messages included references to carrying a gun or a knife and the defendant threatening to take an overdose and a text saying he had just smashed his house up.

"He also said if you ring the police I will have you shot or the house fire-bombed and the lads are ready.”

Hirst pleaded guilty in February to breaching his restraining order and was remanded into custody.

Zaiban Alam, defending, said Hirst has struggled with alcohol, drug and mental health issues and he has not had the benefit of any support since he has been a young adult.

Judge Graham Reeds QC acknowledged Hirst’s remorse and that many references state that when the defendant is not intoxicated there is a calm, considerate side to him.

But he added that when Hirst is struggling with drugs and alcohol against a difficult emotional backdrop he makes the lives of relatives unbearable.

Judge Reeds said: “This was clearly a persistent breach on many occasions sending texts and turning up at your grandparents’ house.”

He sentenced Hirst to 12 months of custody subject to the three-and-half months he has already spent remanded in prison.