‘Obsessive’ man breached court order by trying to give ex roses

AN “obsessive” and “dysfunctional” man repeatedly breached a restraining order by trying to give his former partner red roses while she was out with friends.

Cardiff Crown Court heard 61-year-old Stephen Owen was convicted of harassment in 2012 and has been in and out of prison since then for breaching his restraining order.

Judge Stephen Hopkins QC described his behaviour as a “campaign of harassment”.

The court heard his latest offences occurred last summer in July and August.

Matthew Cobbe, prosecuting, said the defendant used to be in a relationship with Julie Hurd, but they separated several years ago.

Owen was convicted of harassment in October 2012 and a restraining order was imposed.

Prosecutors said he “ignored” the order and continued to send messages and gifts to Ms Hurd.

The court heard he was jailed in November 2014 for two years for inflicting grievous bodily harm and breaching the restraining order.

Mr Cobbe said he pulled her, the victim, around the bedroom by her hair, causing her to hit her head on a bedroom table.

Owen breached the restraining order again not long after he was released from prison by following her into a shop.

The court heard he said: “A f***ing year. What were you playing at putting me away for a f***ing year?”

He was jailed for eight months for that offence.

Prosecutors alleged the new offences formed part of a “pattern of behaviour” designed to harass Ms Hurd.

Mr Cobbe said she used to go to a Wetherspoon’s pub in Barry with her friends on Saturday night, but knew Owen went there too so arranged to meet them at a different bar.

The court heard she went to The Gallery in Broad Street, but was “cornered” by the defendant who told her he still loved her.

Prosecutors said one of her friends intervened and Owen was asked to leave. Ms Hurd tried a different venue, Barcode, hoping to avoid the defendant, but he saw her sitting near the window and pressed his face against the glass.

The court heard the complainant went back to The Gallery on August 12 and Owen approached her as she was standing at the bar, pushing a rose into her face.

A week later Ms Hurd went to Barcode when the defendant walked past the window with a rose and “made a show” of pretending to give it to her.

He was arrested on August 25 and accepted he had seen Ms Hurd in several bars, but denied approaching her and stated he left each time.

In a victim impact statement she described Owen as jealous, controlling and manipulative.

Prosecutors said he had been before the courts for 68 previous offences.

Owen, from Severn Avenue in Barry, initially denied breaching the restraining order but admitted four counts on the day his trial was due to start.

Rhodri Chudleigh, defending, said: “He now appreciates the relationship is over.”

He said the client did not attend Ms Hurd’s home or send her messages and argued the meetings were not pre-planned, adding: “There is no evidence he was following her.”

Judge Hopkins described him as dysfunctional and obsessive and said the evidence suggested he was “not a very nice man”.

He told the defendant: “You are 61 and still behaving in a juvenile, harassing way. The only respite she has is when you are actually in prison.”

The judge noted Owen caused the victim “significant distress” and jailed him for 16 months.