A MAN from Anglesey who tried to intimidate his second cousin into retracting a police statement he made about him has been spared jail.

Iwan Jones, 38, of Maes Merddyn, was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment, suspended for the same time period, at Caernarfon Crown Court today (March 5).

He had previously admitted a charge of intimidating a witness.

READ MORE:

Gwynedd women hailed as role models after taking top care jobs

Caernarfon woman's payout after hotel company wrongfully dismissed her

Prosecuting, Ember-Jade Wong told the court that, in January 2022, Jones’ second cousin, Thomas Rowlands, contacted North Wales Police to report that he’d heard a gun being used, and shortly after saw the defendant carrying a firearm.

Jones, who lives two houses away from Mr Rowlands, was arrested and later released under investigation, though no formal charges arose from this.

But in August 2022, while Mr Rowlands was in his garden, he heard Jones shouting: “You ginger b******… I’ll bang you out for phoning the police” at him.

Jones then shouted at Mr Rowlands from his bathroom “not to go anywhere”, before shouting at him again in front of his address

He said he took issue with Mr Rowlands’ description of the weapon, and that he had recorded part of the incident on his closed circuit television, asserting that he had no right to do so.

Mr Rowlands said he felt Jones was trying to “intimidate” and “scare” him, before another relative of the two man noticed what was going on and tried to intervene.

But some time later, Jones returned to continue confronting Mr Rowlands, repeatedly asking him to retract his statement and assuring him he could guarantee his safety if he do so.

There were other residents on the estate, Jones told Mr Rowlands, who “wished to give him a hiding”.

Mr Rowlands told him he would retract it, so Jones patted him on shoulder and walked away, but the victim then reported this matter to police.

In a statement, the victim said this has proved to the detriment of his and his partner’s mental health, and that he is afraid of further incidents.

“I’m exhausted with it all… it’s just no way to live,” Mr Rowlands said.

Defending Jones, who had no previous convictions, Richard Edwards conceded that his client “needs help with his alcohol intake”.

He had been employed by a recycling business and plans to return to this line of work.

Sentencing, Judge Nicola Saffman also ordered Jones to complete a six-month period of monitored alcohol abstinence, and 20 days’ rehabilitation activity requirements.

Jones was also handed a five-year restraining order, preventing him from contacting Mr Rowlands or attending or loitering outside his property in that time.

Judge Saffman told him: “This is the last chance you will have. Make the most of this order.

“You’ve committed no (other) offences in your 38 years, and now is the time to get your life back on track.”