Prestatyn man ‘terrified' ex with repeated calls and texts
Roberts, 50, of Ash Grove, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment at Caernarfon Crown Court yesterday (July 9), having admitted cannabis possession and four counts of breaching a restraining order.
Prosecutor Michael Whitty said the defendant and Ms Roberts had been in a relationship for about six years until they separated in March 2023.
Then, in March 2024, Roberts was jailed for 10 weeks, and handed a five-year restraining order, having stalked Ms Roberts between April and July 2023.
But between July 2024 and January 2025, Roberts contacted her 'regularly,' often asking her to meet her and to 'get back together' – she had, by then, started a new relationship.
Between January 9 and 14, 2025, Ms Roberts received 400-500 calls from a withheld number; when she answered some of these, she could tell it was the defendant on the other end.
Roberts also sent her numerous text messages, despite her repeatedly telling him to stop contacting her.
On January 13 and 14, Roberts appeared on Ms Roberts' driveway, shouting at her and throwing stones at her bedroom window.
Police attended on January 14, and Ms Roberts later found two voicemail messages left by Roberts between those two visits to her home.
Contact continued until Roberts' arrest on January 16; he was bailed the next day on the condition that he did not contact Ms Roberts.
But by 6pm that day, Ms Roberts began receiving phone calls from a withheld number again – 'dozens' of calls were made in the days that followed.
Roberts, who also ordered taxis and takeaways to Ms Roberts' home, was re-arrested on January 22 and had his home searched – a small bag of cannabis was recovered from his bedroom.
He was charged on January 23 and remanded into custody, but on March 13, Ms Roberts received Mother's Day and Valentine's Day cards which she could tell were from him.
The defendant had purchased these from a prison shop.
Ms Roberts said Roberts' harassment of her has left her 'terrified' and unwilling to leave her house.
It caused her to stop working, while she said she is 'deeply concerned' Roberts will continue contacting her once out of prison.
Representing Roberts, who had 23 previous convictions for 60 offences, Duncan Bould said he has written a letter of apology to the court.
Mr Bould asked the court to acknowledge Roberts' 'sensible, albeit belated' guilty pleas, which 'avoided the complainant having to give evidence' at a trial.
Roberts has shown previously that he is 'capable of keeping out of trouble for periods of time,' Mr Bould said.
He added: 'He's come to accept that this must draw a line now on contact between him and the complainant.'
Sentencing, Judge Timothy Petts told Roberts he 'bombarded' Ms Roberts with calls and 'scores of unwanted text messages'.
Judge Petts added to him: 'The onus was on you to stick to the order. There was no order on her.
'The restraining order and court proceedings clearly meant nothing to you. You need to accept this relationship is over.'
A new restraining order was made for Ms Roberts' protection, to last for 10 years from yesterday.
Speaking after sentencing, inspector Ben Garnett, of North Wales Police, said: 'I commend the victim for having the courage to report Roberts' intimidating and fixated behaviour.
'He is a man who left her living in fear, which has had a devastating impact on her life.
'Stalking and harassment constitute offences that lie at the core of violence against women and girls, eroding their fundamental sense of safety and security.
'I hope this sentencing allows the victim to move forward, knowing he is no longer a threat to her safety.
'We take all reports of harassment and stalking seriously and will support victims throughout any investigation.
'If you are, or have been, a victim of these offences, do not suffer alone. Please report it to us online, or by calling 101. Always dial 999 in an emergency.'
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