A Newtown woman has been jailed for 12 months after breaching a restraining order nine times following an attack on her elderly dad which left him suffering facial injuries and scared that she would return.
Laura Griffiths’ behaviour and threats were so serious that police categorised the incident as high-risk domestic abuse.
The 35-year-old was arrested and charged the same day in December last year with assault by beating and assaulting an emergency worker.
While released on licence midway through a 12-week prison sentence for the crime, Griffiths persuading her father, with whom she was prevented from making any contact, to visit her house, threatening to harm herself if he didn’t.
OTHER NEWS:
- Powys man assaulted ex on Christmas Day after discovering she had new boyfriend
- Welshpool canal wharf would be like 'taking on sinking ship' councillor says
- Newtown man sent 'horrendous' messages about dead grandfather and baby niece
Police were called, and she was arrested and recalled to prison to serve the rest of her sentence.
However, since then, she persistently breached the 12-month restraining order in Newtown between March 29 and April 18.
Griffiths appeared before Newport Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, April 22, to plead guilty to nine incidents in which she breached her restraining order, using controlling and manipulative behaviour which has caused mental, physical, and financial distress to her dad.
As a result of these breaches, Griffiths, of Heol y Coleg, Newtown, has now been jailed for 12 months.
Case officer Detective Sergeant Zoe Powell said: “Restraining orders are put in place to protect victims from perpetrators, and we take all breaches seriously.
“For the defendant in this case to have breached her court order nine times in such a short space of time shows her lack of care and compassion towards her elderly dad, and her persistence to continue to cause him harm.
“We hope he feels able to live safely now his daughter has been served a 12-month prison sentence and hopefully she will receive the support and time she needs to reflect and reform.”
If you're a victim of domestic abuse, or know someone who is, and there's an emergency that's ongoing or life is in danger, call 999 now.
Other ways of reporting include online at www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/ro/report; by calling 101 or in the safety of your local police station.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here