Pensioner who offered daughter £5,000 as cost of living help breached restraining order

A pensioner who offered his daughter £5,000 to help her during the cost of living crisis has been prosecuted for breaching a restraining order.

Anthony Mitchell, 73, sent a text message to his daughter in February saying he wanted her to have the money for her family.

However, the text put him in breach of a restraining order prohibiting him from having any contact with his daughter.

The order was granted in 2018 following a family fallout and is in place until 2030.

Mitchell, from Eaton Street, Northwood, Stoke-on-Trent, pleaded guilty to breaching a restraining order at North Staffordshire Justice Centre.

It is his first criminal conviction.

Magistrates told Mitchell that breaching a restraining order was 'a serious matter', but went outside their sentencing guidelines to hand him a 12-month conditional discharge.

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He must also pay £211 in court costs and charges.

The court heard that the restraining order bans Mitchell from contacting "a number of" individuals, including his daughter.

In February, he send her a message which read: "I see interest rates have gone up. Things are bad and will only get worse.

"Here is £5,000 belonging to you. I never wanted it back.

"If it will help you, please take it. Please take a while to think about it before you call the police."

Prosecutor Zaine Riaz said: "The defendant sent his daughter a text message. She never responded to the message and rightfully reported it to the police.

"The defendant told the police he was worried about his daughter bringing up her children in the current financial climate. Clearly his daughter does not want any contact with him at all."

Andrew Bennett, mitigating, said he had never come across a case like it.

He said: "Mr Mitchell originally gave his daughter a £5,000 payment which he committed to when he had paid off his mortgage.

"In 2016, there was an almighty family schism. The £5,000 was sent back.

"They went to court and this was a restraining order made on acquittal. In February, when the Russians invaded Ukraine, Mr Mitchell foresaw the financial world was going to come crashing down.

"He effectively said, 'Have the money, I never wanted it back and it will help your family'. I find myself amazed that he is before the court today."