A MAN was lucky to escape prison after a string of offences including assaulting his ex and urinating in a police cell.

Darren Mooney pleaded guilty to six charges when he appeared before Kirklees magistrates yesterday.

But he was not sent to jail after magistrates were told how he was working to combat the drink addiction which fuelled his offending.

Mooney, of Brooks Buildings in Marsh, had been in a relationship with Lisa Iredale.

He was made subject to a one year restraining order in February, which banned him from contacting her because of violent incidents.

On August 25 Mooney, 33, had recently been released from prison after serving a 20-week sentence when Miss Iredale contacted him. Mooney rang her back.

He then sent Miss Iredale a text, asking her to come to his house.

At just after 10am she received another text at her Slaithwaite home from Mooney asking her to go to her door. He told her he wanted to speak to her at the end of the road.

Abdul Shakoor, prosecuting, said: “They walked to the end of the road and the defendant shouted at her, calling her abusive names.

Mooney followed Miss Iredale, grabbing her hand and snatching her purse from her. He stole £80 from the purse, which he later pushed back through Miss Iredale’s door.

Mr Shakoor said: “He was verbally abusive, calling her a dog.”

He was arrested and in the cell he was witnessed by custody staff urinating on the floor.

Mooney admitted charges of assault, criminal damage, harassment and breaching a restraining order, threatening behaviour, and theft. He had 86 offences on his record and was subject to a community order, which includes alcohol treatment.

Neil Murphy, mitigating, said that his client had previously had a significant drugs problem which resulted in the majority of his offending. Mooney had since replaced this addiction with alcohol.

Magistrates revoked a community order and replaced it with a new one, which was made as a direct alternative to custody. This includes a 30-day activity requirement, 60 hours of unpaid work and alcohol treatment.