A "MISOGYNIST" is today beginning a five-month prison sentence after he admitted leaving vile and sexualised voicemail messages on the phone of a Powys vicar.

Reverend Petra Goodband had been described as a “Good Samaritan” who “felt sorry” for Alan Newton and took him under her wing.

However, across a four-day period in January of this year, Newton left a series of menacing and obscene voice messages on her answer machine.

The 58-year-old, of HMP Cardiff, had previously denied two charges against him – one of harassment and one of sending by public communication network an indecent, obscene or menacing message – between January 12 and 15, but had changed his pleas on the morning of his trial on November 23.

He blamed his actions on being drunk.

Newton sent his victim – who he had threatened to sexually assault in a separate case involving her last year, after he’d been invited to her home for Christmas dinner – a total of 13 abusive voice messages.

Prosecutor Michael Williams told Newton’s sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates' Court on Thursday, December 1 that Rev Goodband, from Knighton, had been subjected to “unpleasant, unwarranted and oppressive behaviour” by the defendant.

Mr Williams said: “The complainant is Petra Goodband, who is a priest in the Church of Wales and has the ministerial lead for 14 churches in the area; she spends most of her time at St Edwards Church in Knighton.

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“She initially got on well with the defendant. Because of his background, she took him under her wing and felt sorry for him. Their relationship deteriorated though and she received a number of threatening and abusive voicemails from the defendant.

“These contained vile language, messages of a sexual and unpleasant nature, and caused significant stress to the victim.”

In a victim impact statement produced by Rev Goodband and read out by Mr Williams, she said: “I am more anxious than normal and I have nightmares and flashbacks because of this.

“I have visions of the defendant coming to harm me or harm himself. My concern is that without proper care he is capable of doing this to someone else.

“He was mortified when he found out what he’d done. I fear for his safety. This is a gentle, kind man who has severe problems in the conscience.”

Mr Williams added that Newton has an “extensive record of offending”, including previous similar convictions.

“He has not accepted his guilt,” said Mr Williams. “I seek a restraining order, on the basis it is proportionate and necessary to avoid future misconduct.”

Representing himself, Newton said: “I can’t really comment to be honest because I don’t recall making those calls. I must have been a bit too drunk at the time.

“I swear on my life I honestly don’t remember saying what I was supposed to have said. I’ve been to court a few times in the past obviously and have always been arrested and charged, but it never happened on this occasion. I have apologised.”

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District Judge, Stephen Harmes, told Newton: “It was vile behaviour on your part.

“As far as I can see there are no redeeming features. The pre-sentence report was almost entirely negative.

“Your victim tried to help you, you responded with the worst sort of behaviour, with grossly offensive language and sexualised comments to her, the worst of which one can only imagine.

“The effect on her was awful, just as it would be for any woman. This is as bad as any non-violent offence against a woman I’ve heard.

“She was a Good Samaritan to you and you reacted appallingly. It has affected her day-to-day life. She’s still concerned for you, that’s the sort of person she is.

“There is no opportunity or realistic prospect for any order short of custody. The probation service consider you incapable and unwilling to fulfil any community order.

“Your attitude towards the report writer was very poor, you denied almost all of your history, you are described as a misogynist who sexualises females.

“You were inappropriate with the report writer. You refuse medication and have no intention of abstaining from alcohol.”

He was jailed for 20 weeks for each offence, to be served concurrently.

He must also pay Rev Goodband £300 compensation and has to pay a £154 surcharge to the court. A five-year restraining order was granted.