Thug storms his ex’s house, smashing his way into her bedroom
Attacker is jailed for 15 months after threats to ‘terrorise’ victim – and ignoring restraining order
AMAN stormed his former girlfriend’s home and forced his way into her locked bedroom while she cowered in fear.
Andrew Priestley threatened to ‘terrorise’ Natasha Smith after they split up and ‘completely ignored’ a restraining order.
He went to her house in the early hours of the morning when she was asleep in bed before confronting and assaulting her.
Liverpool Crown Court heard Priestley – who has 26 previous convictions for 75 offences – left her ‘constantly living in fear’.
But the 39-year-old, of no fixed address but originally from Widnes, said he was sorry and never meant to cause her any distress.
The court heard Priestley was in a relationship with Ms Smith for around 18 months, before they split in early 2020.
Paul Blasbery, prosecuting, said ‘as a result of previous matters’ a twoyear restraining order was made against Priestley on May 30, 2020.
But he had already breached it twice before an incident at her home in Speke at around 3.30am, on July 25 this year.
Mr Blasbery said Ms Smith had been visiting family in the Widnes area, before she returned home at around 11.30pm.
She heard a knock at her front door and answered it to Priestley, who ‘forced his way into the hallway of her home, pushing her using his elbow, which thankfully resulted in no injury’.
Mr Blasbery said: “She then was that scared she ran up to her bedroom and locked the door because she was in fear of violence from Mr Priestley.
“Mr Priestley forced his way into the bedroom, breaking the lock in the process.”
The court heard Priestley tried to grab her handbag and there was ‘tussling’ between the pair, during which he grabbed and bruised her wrist.
The victim said her ex took her car keys and taunted her, before she said she would call the police and he fled.
Police arrested Priestley on September 8, when he denied having any contact with her.
Mr Blasbery said: “He described the contents of her statement as comical. He denied anything happened and he denied any knowledge of the injuries.”
He said in a victim statement, Ms Smith said Priestley ‘completely ignored’ the restraining order and in her own words ‘she feels that the order offers her little protection from this whatsoever’.
Mr Blasbery said: “She says she is constantly living in fear of him and what he may do, which has caused her a lot of distress.
“She was actually scared at one point to stay in her own home because of fear of him coming back and hurting her.”
He added: “The fire service have had to be involved, they have fitted alarms and letter box protection.”
Ms Smith described how Priestley threatened to ‘terrorise her’, had made threats to her mum, and said: “He just won’t take no for an answer.”
Ms Blasbery said she wanted the court to make a longer restraining order.
Priestley admitted assault by beating, criminal damage and breaching his restraining order.
Peter Killen, defending, said his client told him ‘I just want to apologise’.
The lawyer said: “He’s told me that he wants to be absolutely no more trouble to his former partner. He is really very sorry and though he accepts he did cause distress, really never meant to.”
He said Priestley accepted the relationship was over and didn’t oppose a new restraining order.
Mr Killen said his client had turned to drink and drugs ‘to get away from his problems’.
He said: “It was in that state, of a more chaotic life, that he committed these offences, for which I’ve said he apologises.”
Judge David Potter told Priestley that when he entered his victim’s home, ‘she, fearing your violent tendencies, fled to her bedroom and locked the door’.
He said: “As a result of your assault on her, she sustained bruising to her wrist.”
The judge said Ms Smith felt the order gave her very little protection.
He said: “She was therefore in a state of constant fear and distress and had certain adaptations to her house to give her a sense of protection in her own home.”
Judge Potter jailed Priestley for 15 months and made a new indefinite restraining order, warning him that breaching it carried a maximum sentence of five years in jail.
He said: “If you were foolish enough to breach this restraining order again, the sentences of imprisonment will only ever be greater than that which you have received today.”
● If you have been affected by any issues mentioned in this article, you can contact the
Domestic Violence Helpline for free on 0808 2000 247 or any of the following organisations:
● Women’s Aid
● Refuge
● White Ribbon
● ALICA
● People can also call Merseyside Police on 101 or, if they are in immediate danger, call 999.