Former partner is jailed for breach of restraining order
A WOMAN has been forced to leave her home and live with friends because of the persistent unwanted attention of an ex-partner, a court has heard.
Michael Evans has been subject to a restraining order banning him from contacting the woman for the last six years - an order the 60-year-old repeatedly ignores.
His latest breach saw him turning up outside her house three times in four days shouting her name and looking through her letterbox.
Swansea Crown Court heard Evans has been subject to a restraining order prohibiting him from contacting his ex or going to the Gorseinon street where she lives since 2015.
Connor Evans, prosecuting, said on three days in March 23, 25, and 26 this year people living in Heol Ffion saw and heard Evans outside the woman’s address.
The court heard the defendant spent long periods of time walking back and forth shouting the woman’s name as well as looking through her letterbox. On one of his visits a neighbour heard a smashing noise coming from the property and later saw a glass panel in a door had been put through.
It was on his third trip that a neighbour called the police and when officers arrived at around 8.20am they found him walking up and down the street outside the house. When the PCS approached
Evans he told them: “I love her”.
In an impact statement read to the court by the prosecutor the defendant’s former partner said she had changed her phone number and moved out of her home to stay with friends in an attempt to get away from him. She said she felt Evans had been controlling her and she didn’t know what more she could do to avoid him.
Evans, of Ivy Bush Court, St Thomas, Swansea, admitted three counts of breaching a restraining order and one count of criminal damage. The court heard he has 32 previous convictions for 58 offences with 12 of those convictions being for breaching a restraining order.
Andrew Evans, prosecuting, said the defendant realised that whatever his feelings for his ex the contact had to stop otherwise he would be spending his 60s in and out of prison.
Judge Paul Thomas QC told the defendant it seemed he was unable to accept the relationship was over and was making his former partner’s life “a misery”.
Giving the defendant a one-third discount for his guilty pleas the judge sentenced him to 30 months in prison. Evans will serve up to half that period in custody before being released on licence.
If you or someone you know is affected by domestic abuse visit the Live Fear Free website or call the helpline on 0808 80 10 800.