Yahoo News Jealous man smashed his way into ex's house and fought male he found there
A jealous man smashed his way into a former partner's house in the dead of night and fought another male who he accused of "trying to get on my missus", a court has heard. Brendon Reynolds was subject to a restraining order at the time of the incident which banned him from contacting the woman.
Swansea Crown Court heard Reynolds also has another restraining order in place in regard to a different ex-partner and his barrister said the 30-year-old realises he has issues around "trust and paranoia" that he needs to address. Elin Morgan, prosecuting, said Reynolds was made the subject of a restraining order in respect of his former partner in December last year with the order to last for two years.
On the afternoon of March 16 this year Reynolds helped to lay new flooring at the woman's house, and was at the property with her consent, before going out drinking that evening. At around midnight he returned to the house and kicked, punched, and headbutted the door and shouted abuse at the woman calling her a "cheating f*****g s**g".
The court heard the defendant then jumped over the back garden fence and smashed a window before entering the property. Once inside he accused a male he encountered there of "trying to get on my missus" and the two men ended up fighting, which left blood "splattered" on the walls. Reynolds then smashed a TV in the property. The court heard such was the disturbance the defendant created that no fewer than four neighbours called the police to report what was going on.
In an impact statement which was read to the court by the prosecutor Reynolds' ex-partner said the defendant had had "enough chances" but had messed them all up and she now just wanted to move on with her life. The woman said she wanted "nothing to do with him".
Brendon Reynolds, of Ilan Road, Abertridwr, Caerphilly, had previously pleaded guilty to breach of a restraining order and to criminal damage when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has six previous convictions for eight offences including breaches of restraining orders – involving both the complainant in the current case and another former partner – criminal damage, sending malicious communications, and obstructing a constable. He was subject to three separate community orders at the time of the new offending.
Kevin Seal, for Reynolds, said while the complainant had been "complicit" in the defendant being at her property on occasions in breach of the restraining order his client realised it was his responsibility to abide by the order. He said Reynolds now accepted the relationship was over and he said the defendant understands he has issues around "trust and paranoia" which he had to address. The barrister said references before the court showed the tradesman to be an "entirely different person" from the one who had turned at the woman's house on the night in question.
Recorder David Elias KC said it was clear from the pre-sentence report that the defendant became "incredibly jealous" at finding another male in his ex-partner's house even though such matters were "not his business". He said it was clear Reynolds had trust issues and needed to learn how to deal with feelings of jealousy.
With a one-third discount for his guilty pleas Reynolds was sentenced to 16 months in prison comprising 16 months for breach of the restraining order and one month for criminal damage to run concurrently. The judge revoked the three community orders the defendant was in breach of and re-sentenced him to two months in prison for each of the three offences to run concurrently with one another and concurrently with the 16-month sentence. The defendant will serve up to half the 16 months in prison before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community. He was also made the subject of an indefinite restraining order in respect of his former partner.
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.
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