Northwich man jailed for breach of Domestic Violence Prevention Order

A Northwich man has been jailed for four weeks for breaching a Domestic Violence Prevention Order (DVPO) after his app usage revealed he had been frequently visiting his victim’s address.

Jacob Snelson appeared at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 17 July where he was sentenced to four weeks imprisonment after pleading guilty to the breach of a DVPO imposed upon him.

The court heard that Snelson, of Pear Tree Drive, Northwich, was issued with the order, preventing him from contacting his former partner, at Chester Magistrates' Court on Friday 12 July. Among the conditions of the order, Snelson was barred from contacting his former partner and coming within 100 metres of their address.

At the time of the breach, Snelson was also the subject of a separate order that required regular visits from police officers, in which his mobile phone would be routinely checked. During a check of his phone on Tuesday 16 July, officers noticed that Snelson had been using a location tracking app that showed the locations of his and his former partner's phone.

The app also logged the locations that he had recently visited.

One of these locations had been saved as "home" by Snelson and had been visited earlier that day. However upon inspection, officers found that the address was not the residence of Snelson, but that of the victim whom the order against him was designed to protect.

It was later discovered that Snelson had five other trips to the address almost immediately after the order was issued with the order less than a week prior.

Snelson was subsequently arrested and charged with a breach of his Domestic Violence Prevention Order and appeared at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 17 July where he was sentenced to four weeks imprisonment.

Police Constable David Howells, of Public Protection, said:

"Snelson's reoffending began almost immediately following the issuing of the order, which was put in place less than five days before to protect a vulnerable person who had been the subject of domestic abuse.

"One thing is clear, we will not be needing an app to know the location of Snelson for the next month and I hope his custodial sentence will reassure  victims of domestic abuse that we will always take swift action against those intent on causing violence, fear and distress.

"I would encourage anyone who is a victim of domestic abuse to report it, either via 101 or 999 in an emergency."

You can also report domestic abuse online to Cheshire Constabulary via our website at: 

Report domestic abuse.

Pictured - Jacob Snelson, of Pear Tree Drive in Northwich.