A Chester man who breached his Sexual Harm Prevention Order by hugging people has received a prison sentence.

Jimmy Artell, 43, previously of Onslow Road but currently of HMP Altcourse, had last month admitted two breaches at Chester Magistrates Court on June 24, by hugging a man and a woman without reasonable excuse in Ellesmere Port on May 7.

He also admitted breaching his Criminal behaviour Order by being drunk in a public place on the same day in Ellesmere Port.

The orders had initially been imposed in August 2021, when Artell had been jailed for sexual assault, assault by beating, criminal damage and failing to comply with the sex offenders register.

The orders prohibited Artell from being drunk in a public place or from having physical contact with anyone, except for a legitimate purpose, in any public place, business premises, private property or dwelling.

On June 24, Artell was handed a 24-week prison sentence.

At Chester Magistrates Court on July 16, Artell reappeared, where he pleaded guilty to further breaches of his CBO and SHPO by hugging another man, in an offence dated from April 5.

The court heard the additional custodial sentence was inevitable as Artell was a serving prisoner, the defendant had a flagrant disregard for court orders, and they had been committed while Artell was on a suspended sentence.

They did taken into account Artell's guilty pleas when sentencing.