Barry Mitchinson Teesside Magistrates had issued a warrant for his arrest on June 25 1998.

Barry Mitchinson married, had three children, and forged a new career as a stonemason.But the judge dismissed defence pleas to let him stay free, saying that he could not be rewarded for evading justice for ten years.Mitchinson, now 35, claimed he fled East Cleveland to escape from a gang who wanted payment for thousands of pounds of drugs police seized from him.He was found in Kent last month where he was living in a housing association property with his Belgian wife and three children, said prosecutor Jolyon Perks.Mitchinson was at work when police arrived on his doorstep but he gave himself up the next day, Teesside Crown Court was told.Teesside Magistrates had issued a warrant for his arrest on June 25 1998.<br />Mitchinson had burgled a house in The Parkway, Saltburn, on February 22 1998 and stolen a video recorder, CDs and rolling tobacco worth a total of £527.While on bail he was arrested in Lazenby on June 4 1998 with £3,500 of heroin in his socks and a dealer’s list.He claimed he had been paid £100 to collect and deliver the two packages of Class A drugs.But he failed to return to the police station on August 4 1998 when the find would have been analysed.Judge Michael Taylor said this week that Mitchinson would have been jailed for four and a half years if he had appeared before a court in 1998.Michael Bosomworth, defending, said according to a pre-sentence report, Mitchinson had the ability to learn from his mistakes and the ability to rehabilitate.Mr Bosomworth argued the public was not threatened by a man who had clearly rehabilitated himself and was earning money to pay taxes and to support three children.Judge Taylor told Mitchinson: “I am asked to deal with you leniently today, and there are attractive aspects to that argument. But the State cannot agree to those who evade justice receiving credit for that.”<br />Mitchinson, formerly of Diamond Street, Saltburn, was jailed for two years and one month after he admitted burglary, possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply, and a bail offence.

Barry Mitchinson Teesside Magistrates had issued a warrant for his arrest on June 25 1998.

Barry Mitchinson married, had three children, and forged a new career as a stonemason.But the judge dismissed defence pleas to let him stay ...

Read more »