Restraining order was breached by ex-partner
A MECHANIC who assaulted his girlfriend and threatened to kill her was spared prison – then breached his restraining order by posting about her on Facebook.
Peter Daniel was handed a suspended sentence at Swansea Crown Court last summer – but seven months in, he breached the sentence and the order made to protect his then partner.
Sentencing him at Cardiff Crown Court last Thursday, Recorder Christopher Felstead said: “If you miss your children there are proper ways to deal with it. Venting on social media is not one of them.”
Lisa McCormick, prosecuting, said the threeyear restraining order was made on July 4 last year and banned Daniel from contacting his former partner directly or indirectly.
The court heard she was made aware by a friend the defendant had posted publicly about her on Facebook and he was arrested on March 4.
Daniel told police he struggled to read and write and had not fully understood the order, thinking it was just about contacting her and not realising he should not post about her online.
Prosecutors said he had six previous offences on his record including three when he was a juvenile. He was sentenced in July 2019 for battery, making threats to kill, and possessing cannabis.
Daniel, 26, from Tyn Y Bettws Close in Bettws, Bridgend, admitted harassment in breach of a restraining order and suspended sentence.
Giles Hayes, defending, said his client accepted he posted the comment about missing his children to a friend after drinking and was “venting his frustration”.
He acknowledged that should have been done privately.
He told the court his client completed all 180 hours of unpaid work promptly and attended 62 out of 75 appointments with the Probation Service, with no unacceptable absences.
Recorder Felstead said: “When you came in here I was going to send you to prison. I am just persuaded, and only just, that would be unjust in all the circumstances.”
He added: “What you did was stupid, foolish and self-aggrandising.”
The judge imposed a 12-month community order requiring Daniel to complete 180 hours of unpaid work and pay £420 in costs.
He must do an additional 60 hours for breaching the suspended sentence.
Recorder Felstead said: “If you come back here again – and I make myself absolutely crystal clear – even for the most minor breach, I will activate these sentences and you will go to prison.
“You have had two chances now and you will not get any more from me.”