A MAN from Caernarfon who repeatedly contacted his former partner after the breakdown of their relationship has been spared jail.
David Roberts, 45, of Maesincla Lane, was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment, suspended for a year-and-a-half, at Caernarfon Crown Court today (February 9).
He had admitted two charges each of breaching a non-molestation order and of harassment without violence.
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Prosecuting, Laura Knightly told the court that Roberts and his ex-partner had been in a relationship for 19 years, and had two children together, prior to it ending in December 2022.
But Roberts “did not take the end of the relationship well”, and she was later granted a non-molestation order.
This prevented him from contacting her save for through her mother, and from going to the family home in Bangor without prior agreement.
From June to October 2023, though, he repeatedly made phone calls, on occasion from a withheld number, to her, as well as texting her and entering her garden.
Her mother was also contacted by Roberts to such an extent that a charge of harassment without violence was made.
In a statement, Roberts' ex-partner said she felt in a “never-ending cycle”, and feared that Roberts was “never going to stop" contacting her.
His actions, she said, have had a “massive impact" on her work and personal life, and she is now being medicated for depression.
Defending Roberts, who had five previous convictions for six offences, Elen Owen said he now accepts the harm he has caused and has genuine remorse for his behaviour.
Roberts has had a “serious drink problem”, Ms Owen said, but is “not stupid enough to think things are going to return to any sense of normal”.
She said he has an “overwhelming wish to keep a relationship with his children”, but that “the penny has now dropped” as far as contacting his ex-partner is concerned.
Ms Owen said he has a “positive and strong work ethic,” with a job as a roofer said to be available to him.
Sentencing, Judge Nicola Saffman issued Roberts with a two-year restraining order, saying his offences were “clearly the acts of a desperate man”.
Roberts must not contact his ex-partner, save for via solicitors regarding child contact or by order of the family court, cannot attend premises occupied by her, and cannot make reference to her or her mother online.
Judge Saffman told him: “Your actions reflected how badly you were taking and accepting that breakdown.”
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