A MAN who admitted to assault and threatening to destroy property has avoided prison.

Ian Booth, 31, appeared before Liverpool, Knowsley and St Helens Magistrates' Court on Monday, February 19.

Booth, of no fixed address, admitted to committing assault at an address in Newton-le-Willows on Saturday, February 17.

The 31-year-old also admitted to causing criminal damage to a body-worn video camera belonging to Merseyside Police on the same date.

Booth also indicated guilty pleas to two counts of threat to damage his own property, namely a home address, in a way he knew was likely to endanger the life of another.

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A court sheet said the threatening to destroy property offences were "so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified".

However, magistrates decided to suspend the sentence.

Booth was given two concurrent sentences of 26 weeks in jail, suspended for 18 months, for the threatening to destroy property offences.

A restraining order forbidding Booth from contacting one of his victims for 18 months was also imposed.

The defendant was also given an eight-week suspended sentence for the assault and no further penalty for the criminal damage.

He was also ordered to undertake a Building Better Relationships Programme and rehabilitation activity for up to 30 days.

Booth was made to pay a £120 in costs, £50 in compensation and a surcharge of £154.00.