Anthony Mason admitted breaching his curfew on multiple occasions
Anthony Mason admitted breaching his curfew on multiple occasions
A thug who was handed a suspended prison sentence after assaulting two strangers in Liverpool city centre has been given another chance after breaching his terms multiple times. Anthony Mason was allowed to walk free from court in September last year after a judge agreed to suspend his 23-month sentence for a period of two years.
The 53-year-old, carrying a cane, appeared to struggle to stand as he was helped into the dock by his friends and a security guard. Following his sentence, he was pictured walking unaided from Liverpool Crown Court, twirling his cane triumphantly around his head.
He had pleaded guilty to two counts of section 20 assault causing grievous bodily harm, two counts of production of a controlled class B drug (cannabis), and breaching a community order.
The first assault occurred on May 7, 2022. CCTV from within the Ruby Blues club on Great Charlotte Street showed Mason speaking briefly with victim Wayne Scott before lashing out, swinging at the other man five times and knocking him to the ground. Mr Scott suffered “multiple bleeds inside the head” and was kept in hospital for four days.
Mason was arrested for the assault in August, when police attending his property found “obviously hallmarks of a cannabis farm”. Over half a kilo of flowering cannabis heads, with a street value of between £5,000 and £8,000 were found, along with £4,840 cash stashed inside a slow cooker.
A second police raid in August 2023 found “clear evidence of cannabis cultivation”, with two cannabis plants being seized.
Finally, in March 2024, Mason was again booked on assault charges after punching a man outside the Filling Station takeaway on the corner of Victoria Street and North John Street in Liverpool city centre. The victim, Robert Bowen, suffered 3cm laceration to his mouth, which required stitches.
As part of his sentence, Mason, of Bannerman Street in Edge Hill, was ordered to complete a 12 month drug requirement order and a six-month curfew.
He appeared back at Liverpool Crown Court today, February 19, after admitted to breaching his curfew several times between October 8 and November 3 2025, November 5 2025, and January 1 2026.
Prosecutor Oliver Saddington said: “The most recent update is that things appear to be going in the right direction. Since January he has been responsive in phone calls and has been attending office appointments. He has completed two rehabilitation days so far.
“He has been fairly candid with those who instruct me. His behaviour has been described as challenging at times if he’s under the influence of drugs, but on the whole this is somebody who the probation service can continue to work with, and they are willing to do that.”
Paul Becker, defending, said: “He has severe issues with mobility due to a stroke in January 2025, and the defendant is not in good health at all.”
He said Mason lived alone, and that when the breaches occurred “he was either going to a neighbour of going to the bins.” He said: “He understand the breaches are serious and Your Honour will take a dim view, but has otherwise engaged with the order, and he’s sorry for what he has done.”
He added that Mason received around £1,600 a month in benefits, and asked the judge to issue a fine instead of activating the suspended sentence, which would result in Mason being sent to prison to serve out the remainder of his term.
Addressing Mason, Her Honour Judge O’Brien said: “The starting point when a suspended sentence is beached is that the court must activate the term unless it would be unjust to do so. It’s fortunate that probation have taken the view they are able to continue to work with you, because if they hadn’t the court would have no choice but to send you to prison.”
She ordered him to pay a £50 fine.
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