Man appeared at window of former partner's house with hammer in hand

A man turned up at his former partner's house drunk and began "kicking off" in a row over child access. David Williams had a hammer during the incident and his ex was left "paranoid" about him.

Caernarfon Crown Court heard the 27-year-old, of no fixed address, had breached a restraining order - imposed in March this year for harassment - by arriving at the property in Wrexham. A judge today jailed him for 20 weeks for the breach.

Prosecutor Brett Williamson told the court Williams had been in a relationship with the woman for several years but the restraining order was imposed on March 27 prohibiting him from contacting her except through a third party over child access. But just a few weeks later on April 20 he went to her house "drunk" and "kicking off". He was shouting about child contact.

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At one point he had a hammer and was "right up against the glass with the hammer", said the prosecutor. The woman's doorbell was taken off her door and she confronted him and got it back.

She felt threatened and rang police. But Williams climbed over a garden fence and when officers arrived they couldn't immediately find him.

Later Williams was arrested. He admitted going to the house and said there had been difficulties getting access to their child. In a statement the woman said she panics if she hears noises and feels paranoid about the defendant.

Philip Tully, defending, said no violence was used and his client's ex-partner had been "extremely difficult" about access to their child. But he accepts he behaved foolishly and will go through the proper channels in future.

As for the hammer, Mr Tully said the defendant actually took it off the woman who had it in her house. No charges were brought over the hammer.

The judge His Honour Timothy Petts told Williams he had arrived "drunk and shouting and screaming about child contact" which was "totally against" the terms of the restraining order.

He jailed him for 20 weeks for breaching that order. There was no separate penalty for causing criminal damage to the door, costing £40 but he must pay Wrexham County Borough Council £40 compensation.

When he is released from custody quite soon he will have to continue with his rehabilitation activity imposed by an earlier court.

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