Man with Parkinson’s disease is tagged and put under curfew

A Keynsham man who suffers from Parkinson’s disease has been electronically tagged and put under a six-month curfew for six breaches of a non-molestation order against his former partner.

Graham Vass, 63, appeared before Bath magistrates on Wednesday 30th July for sentence.

The non-molestation order (NMO) was made by Bristol Family Court in June 2024.  All six breaches were committed in Bath.

Solicitor Guen Brown, representing Vass, said that the order had been granted in his absence at the family court in Bristol in June 2024. He and his ex-partner share childcare.

Miss Brown told the bench that Vass has severe shakes and the phone calls he had made to her were “pocket dialled” by mistake.

She described him as a “genuine person” simply seeking contact with his child and has “legitimate parental rights”.

The prosecution outlined that on 24th September last year Vass made a phone call to the woman; on 3rd October he addressed and delivered a letter to her home; on 20th October he made another phone call; on 24th October he delivered another letter; on 30th January 2025 he contacted her via a third party; and on 28th February again called her.

Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order with an immediate six-month curfew and electronic monitoring period covering the hours of 7pm to 7am during which time he must remain at his home at Dunster Road.

Vass was fined £100 with a £114 surcharge and £85 costs.

A three-year restraining order was also imposed, with the only permitted contact with his former partner being via a co-parenting app.