FREEDOM FOR THE SKIPRATA SERIAL hoarder jailed after adding a sawn-off shotgun to his trove of junk has been freed by merci...more » Late-night drive ends in police chaseA MOTORIST who went for a late-night drive because he couldn't sleep sparked a high-speed police...more » City's music talents are on song for charityTHE big names of the Sunderland music revolution are joining forces to bring Christmas cheer to the ...more » Loose club sign dangerPEOPLE were kept away from the entrance to Sunderland's new £5million mega-club after its huge n...more » Climbers scale the heights for good causeCLIMBERS got set to scale a mountain of their own as part of a national fund-raising drive....more » Row over redundancy payWOMEN workers at supermarket giant Morrisons are to be balloted on industrial action in a row over r...more » Mum still hopes for justiceJUSTICE for murdered schoolgirl Nikki Allan could yet be handed out, police revealed today....more » I'M ONLY A HOARDER!: Stephen March FREEDOM FOR THE SKIPRAT A SERIAL hoarder jailed after adding a sawn-off shotgun to his trove of junk has been freed by merciful judges. Stephen March – known as "Skip Rat" – has spent his life amassing trinkets and treasures for the home he shares with despairing wife Marilyn.
After six weeks in Durham jail, appeal judges yesterday cut his 12-month sentence to 12 weeks – allowing the grandad to return home to his family.
Marilyn had phoned police on New Year's Day, after her husband had drunk a glass of whisky while on medication, and was so out of control police arrested him on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly.
But officers then charged the 51-year-old with possession of a prohibited weapon after finding the unlicensed 12-bore shotgun in his bedroom – an offence which now carries a mandatory five year sentence.
Forklift truck driver Stephen had taken the gun from a bin across the road in Holy Trinity Church for safe keeping – but was left stunned in September when a judge at Newcastle Crown Court sent him to jail for 12 months.
Stephen spent the past six weeks in HMP Durham, mixing with child killers and knifemen, before being freed by Appeal Court judges as the family cancelled Christmas at their house in Peareth Hall Road, Usworth.
He has filled his home with trinkets, ornaments, old television sets, filing cabinets, china, oil lamps, spoons, an oar, a tricycle, a telescope, a leather horse belt, a pile of timber and a fireplace.
Mr Justice Elias – sitting with Mr Justice Nelson – said yesterday a prison term was justified, but that Stephen's sentence could be substantially reduced, as he has "learnt a very harsh lesson" behind bars.
Marilyn had phoned police on New Year's Day, after her husband had drunk a glass of whiskey while on medication, and was so out of control cops arrested him on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly.
But officers then charged the 51-year-old with possession of a prohibited weapon after finding the 12-bore shotgun in his bedroom – an offence which now carries a mandatory five year sentence.
Fork-lift truck driver Stephen had taken the gun from a bin across the road in Holy Trinity Church for safe keeping – but was left stunned in September when a judge at Newcastle Crown Court sent him to jail for 12 months.
Stephen spent the past six weeks in HMP Durham, mixing with child killers and knifemen, before being freed by Appeal Court judges as the family cancelled Christmas at their house in Peareth Hall Road, Usworth.
Friends have dubbed him "Skippy" or "SkipRat" because of his passion, which has filled his home with trinkets, ornaments, old television sets, filing cabinets, china, oil lamps, spoons, an oar, a tricycle, a telescope, a leather horse belt, a pile of timber and a fireplace.
Mr Justice Elias – sitting with Mr Justice Nelson – said yesterday a prison term was justified, but that Stephen's sentence could be substantially reduced, as he has "learnt a very harsh lesson" behind bars.
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