A MAN from Llandudno has been jailed after breaching his restraining order on the day he had been released from prison following a previous committal of the same offence.
Andrew O’Neill, 37, of Bodhyfryd Road, was sentenced to two years and nine months’ imprisonment at Caernarfon Crown Court today (March 14).
His restraining order, prohibiting him from contacting or approaching his ex-partner, Linda Morrall, was also extended to run indefinitely.
Prosecuting, Max Saffman told the court that, on January 16, O’Neill was released from HMP Berwyn after serving a 12-week sentence for a previous breach of the five-year order.
As soon as he was released, he was said to have attended Ms Morrall’s address on Victor Wilde Drive, Rhos-on-Sea.
READ MORE:
Accidental fires take place at flats in Rhyl and Colwyn Bay
Work begins on new ‘high ropes’ course at Abergele holiday park
Rhyl man ‘bang at it’ found with bags of drugs weighing almost 150g
When he knocked on her door, her son answered, and O’Neill pushed him back, held his hand over his mouth and nose to prevent from breathing, and told him repeatedly to “shush”.
He walked into the house and was talking about an iPhone which he claimed Ms Morrall had stolen from him, before taking two mobile phones and Mr Morrall’s bank card from the living room table and leaving.
Just after 6pm that day, O’Neill arrived at the Westminster Hotel in Rhyl, where he had been given temporary accommodation.
Sharon Watkins, working at the hotel’s reception, found O’Neill “drunk and aggressive” upon his arrival.
When going through housekeeping rules with him, O’Neill called her a “fat s**g”, used a racial slur, and said: “no wonder your family hate you, you fat b***h”.
NEWSLETTER: Get the latest stories from the Rhyl, Prestatyn and Abergele area sent straight to your inbox by signing up here.
Due to O’Neill’s behaviour, Ms Watkins refused to admit him to the hotel.
O’Neill later threatened her, saying: “I’m going to get a knife, I’m going to stab you, I know the staff here, I’m going to slash you.”
During a phone call Ms Watkins made to the police, O’Neill could be heard swearing and using racist language.
When the police arrived, O’Neill told an officer: “Touch me again and I’ll f***ing twist you up.”
While being escorted to St Asaph Police Station, O’Neill kicked out repeatedly at the officer driving the vehicle, before kicking an policeman in his left shin after they had arrived.
In a statement, Ms Morrall said she is “living in fear all the time”, and that her anxiety increased after she learnt of his release from prison in January.
She said she felt scared when he arrived at her home, and has turned back to alcohol to cope with her fear.
Ms Morrall added that “every day is a struggle”, and she has to be reminded to eat and shower.
Ms Watkins added that she felt “genuinely threatened” and “extreme anxiety” as a result of O’Neill’s actions at the hotel.
She said she felt “personally attacked by his abusive words and threats”, was “physically shaking” when the police arrived, and replays the incident in her head.
O’Neill, a roofer, had 21 previous convictionss for 35 offences.
Defending, Richard Edwards conceded that immediate custody was inevitable, but asked for the shortest sentence possible.
Mr Edwards said that O'Neill's offending was “committed on impulse”, and that “alcohol, unfortunately, was again a contributing factor”.
Though O’Neill made a “foolish” decision to breach the restraining order, Mr Edwards said that there was “perhaps a glimmer of hope” that he may be beginning to change his ways.
He was said to be hoping to move to the Bangor or Caernarfon area once released from prison, and believes he would pick up roofing work quickly.
During his time remanded in custody, he was said to have signed up to numerous courses, including alcohol awareness, and thinking skills.
O’Neill, Mr Edwards added, is also prescribed medication to treat anxiety and depression.
Sentencing, Judge Timothy Petts also ordered O’Neill to pay a statutory surcharge.
Judge Petts told him: “You seem to have no regard for the rules and orders put in place to protect other people.
“(There is) no remorse, no victim understanding, and nothing that probation can offer you, given the risks you pose.”
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