A POWYS man who harassed his former partner over access to his baby son has been told by magistrates that his behaviour came close to warranting a prison sentence.

Shane Davies, 35, was handed a two-year restraining order protecting his ex-girlfriend this week.

Davies had previously admitted harassing his victim between March 21-29, and assaulting her on March 7, in Llandrindod Wells.

Davies, of Maes View, Dolau, near Llandrindod, had also admitted a charge of failing to provide a specimen after being stopped by police in Berkshire on March 9 under suspicion of drink driving.

At Welshpool Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, April 16, prosecutor Helen Tench said Davies’ ex had started receiving unwanted contact from the defendant.

“She received unwanted emails on March 22 and he also attended at her address,” said Mrs Tench.

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“She went back on social media as she wanted to get in touch with friends and within 10 minutes she had an email from him calling her a ‘s*** mum and person’.

“Ten minutes after her reply he turned up unannounced, putting his hand through the letter box. He began banging on the living room window, he was laughing. She called the police.

“She received five more emails through the night, saying ‘everyone hates you’. There were more emails calling her ‘crazy’."

He returned two days later and hit the bedroom window, leading her to call the police, Mrs Tench said.

She added that Davies was arrested on March 25 and warned not to contact the victim, but he breached those conditions.

Mrs Tench said that in interview Davies told officers all he wanted to do was to see his son.

In a victim impact statement provided by the victim, she said: “I don’t want to be scared anymore. I want to be free of him and move on with my life.”

She added that the failing to provide charge occurred on March 9, when Davies was returning home from Berkshire.

“There was a strong smell of alcohol and he had two passengers. He actively refused to provide," Mrs Tench said.

“He was handcuffed and cactus spray was used. He refused at the station too and was aggressive to officers.”

Paul Inns, representing Davies, said his client accepted the assault on his former partner. “He accepts he was out of order,” said Mr Inns.

“In terms of the harassment, at the heart of it was wanting to see his 4-month-old son. He accepts this was not the way to go about it.”

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Of the failure to provide offence, Mr Inns said: “He had a call from his grandmother regarding his brother, who was in hospital and needed a lift home.

“He drove to Berkshire to pick him up. On the way back he was stopped. The database showed he had no insurance. This proved to be erroneous."

Nick Powell, chair of the bench, told Davies: “Your track record is really poor. We have decided the offences are not far off the custody threshold.”

Magistrates handed him an 18-month community order; he must complete 200 hours’ unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation activity days as part of this.

He must pay £85 costs and a £114 surcharge, and is banned from driving for 20 months.