Key Points
- A man named Shaun O’Reilly, who is 25 years old and from Wigan, has confessed to having broken a restraining order.
- The crime included contacting a lady between the dates of 1 September and 2 November.
- O’Reilly, who lives at Wyre Avenue, Platt Bridge, pleaded guilty to harassment due to a breach of a restraining order.
- Wigan Magistrates’ Court gave him a community order of 12 months, which included 80 hours of unpaid work.
- Furthermore, he had to pay £85 as cost towards prosecution.
- This news article appeared in the newspaper called “Wigan Today” on 14 November 2026.
- This news report failed to mention the name of the lady and any other information about the contact.
Wigan (Manchester Mirror) November 14, 2026 – A Wigan man who admitted contacting a woman in breach of a restraining order has been ordered to carry out unpaid work as part of a community sentence.
As reported by Wigan Today, Shaun O’Reilly, 25, of Wyre Avenue, Platt Bridge, pleaded guilty to harassment – breach of a restraining order. The court was told that he contacted a woman between 1 September and 2 November, contrary to the terms of an existing restraining order.
Wigan magistrates imposed a 12-month community order requiring O’Reilly to complete 80 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £85 in prosecution costs.
Who is Shaun O’Reilly?
O’Reilly was identified in the court report as a 25-year-old man living on Wyre Avenue in Platt Bridge, Wigan. The report did not provide further personal details beyond his age, address area and guilty plea.
The case concerned an allegation that he contacted a woman despite a restraining order prohibiting such contact. The report stated that the contact took place over a period of roughly two months, from the beginning of September to early November.
What offence did he admit?
O’Reilly admitted harassment breach of a restraining order. In England and Wales, a restraining order may impose conditions intended to prevent a person from contacting, approaching or otherwise behaving towards another person in a specified way.
The court report did not describe the nature, number or method of the contacts alleged to have breached the order. It also did not state whether the woman suffered physical harm, whether the order remains in force, or whether any further allegations were considered by the court.
What sentence did the court impose?
Magistrates chose a community-based sentence rather than an immediate custodial sentence. The 12-month community order includes a requirement to complete 80 hours of unpaid work.
The court also ordered O’Reilly to pay £85 towards prosecution costs. Wigan Today’s report did not mention a victim surcharge, compensation order, rehabilitation-activity requirement, or any additional financial penalty.
Why was the case reported?
The case was covered by Wigan Today as part of its reporting on proceedings at Wigan magistrates’ court. The publication’s report was published on 14 November 2026 and set out the plea, the period of alleged contact, and the sentence imposed.
No other media organisation’s report of the case was identified in the available coverage. The available reporting therefore rests on the details published by Wigan Today.
What the court report did not say
The published report did not identify the woman, explain the original reason for the restraining order, or say when that order was made. It also did not state whether O’Reilly had previous convictions or whether he expressed remorse in court.
The report likewise did not say whether the restraining order was varied, extended or left unchanged following the latest conviction. Readers should therefore avoid drawing conclusions about matters that were not stated in the court coverage.
Background of the development
Restraining orders are court orders that can restrict a person’s contact with, or conduct towards, another individual. Breaching such an order can constitute a criminal offence, and courts may impose penalties ranging from community sentences to imprisonment depending on the circumstances and the person’s record.
In this case, the reported sentence of a 12-month community order and 80 hours of unpaid work reflects a community-based disposal. Wigan Today reported that O’Reilly admitted the breach after contacting a woman between September and November, and that magistrates also ordered him to pay prosecution costs.
Prediction: How this may affect local residents
For residents of Wigan, particularly those in Platt Bridge, the case may reinforce awareness that restraining orders carry legal consequences when their conditions are breached. A community order with unpaid work means the sentence is intended to be completed locally, although the report does not specify where or when the work will take place.
For people subject to restraining orders, the case highlights the importance of complying strictly with every condition, including any ban on contact. For people protected by such orders, the report may provide reassurance that alleged breaches can be brought before the courts, while the exact outcome in any future case will depend on the evidence and individual circumstances.
