A man who chased his former partner in his car, blocked her vehicle and jumped on her bonnet while punching the windscreen has been jailed for 22 months.
Daniel Davies, 40, of Spring Valley Lakes, Resolven, Neath Valley, was subject to a restraining order at the time of the incident, which banned him from contacting his ex-partner after he assaulted her. He had previously pleaded guilty to breaching the restraining order and dangerous driving.
Abusive messages and threats
Sarah John, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court that the victim was granted a restraining order in March this year after Davies assaulted her. There was some "amicable contact" between the pair in September before the woman asked the defendant to stop contacting her.
The court heard that Davies then bombarded the woman with abusive texts and messages, calling her a "dirty little rat" and a "dirty little tramp", threatening to kill her and warning that he was going to "come through your door", adding: "I am not going to die before I take you".
Car chase and attack
On the morning of September 8, Davies turned up at the woman's house in his car as she prepared for the school run, revving the engine and beeping the horn. The court heard he "appeared to be intoxicated" at the wheel.
The complainant completed the school run but as she drove home through Ammanford she saw Davies in his car, and he began to follow her. On a narrow road, Davies tailgated the woman before colliding with the back of her car. He then overtook her, narrowly avoiding an oncoming car, before pulling his vehicle across the road to block her way. He got out and began screaming at the woman before jumping on the bonnet of her car and punching the windscreen and bonnet.
The incident ended when another vehicle arrived on the scene and the victim was able to reverse away and escape. The matter was reported to police, and Davies was arrested on September 14, answering "no comment" to all questions in his subsequent interview.
Sentencing and police response
In a statement read to the court, Davies' ex said his behaviour had impacted her emotionally and psychologically, and said she and her children should be able to feel safe in their home. Davies has 38 previous convictions for 76 offences.
David Singh, for Davies, said it was clear from the documents that the defendant and complainant care about each other, adding: "On sober reflection, he knows what his problem is".
Judge Catherine Richards said Davies had engaged in a serious and persistent breach of the restraining order which had endangered the safety of people. She told the defendant his past convictions "paint a picture of someone who, perhaps when in drink, considers court orders do not apply to you".
With one-quarter discounts for his guilty pleas, Davies was sentenced to 22 months in prison, comprising 22 months for the breach of the restraining order and six months for dangerous driving, to run concurrently. He will serve no more than half the sentence in custody before being released on licence. He was also disqualified from driving for a total of 21 months and must pass an extended test before he can re-apply for a licence.
Speaking after sentencing, Dyfed-Powys Police constable Aaron Jones, of Carmarthenshire local investigation unit, said: "Davies was issued with a restraining order in March this year, which included clear instruction that he was not permitted to contact his ex-partner. He chose to completely disregard this order and subjected the victim to this terrifying ordeal. I would like to commend the victim's courage for reporting Davies to us. Her account greatly assisted us in apprehending Davies and bringing him to court. Davies's sentence demonstrates the seriousness of breaching a restraining order, and highlights our commitment to relentlessly pursuing offenders who subject women and girls to threats of violence."
