17-year-old victim said she feared for her life after a series of threats

A MAN who threatened a teenage girl with violence during a series of phone calls has been jailed for 18 months.

Paul Gurney, aged 32, of Maes Grug, Stop and Call, Goodwick, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on Monday (Mar 9) after admitting sending communications threatening death and serious harm.

The court heard the victim, a 17-year-old girl who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was alone at a property in Whitland on the evening of February 11 when she received a call from Gurney.

Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told the court that Gurney had previously been in a relationship with the teenager and appeared to be heavily intoxicated during the call.

During the conversation, he accused her of being unfaithful before making a series of threats.

“He told her he was going to come to her house and chop her ears off and that he would bring a gun and a baseball bat with him,” the court heard.

Later the same evening, Gurney contacted the girl again, telling her: “You betrayed me, so now I’m going to betray you and your family.”

The court was also told that Gurney posted a photograph of himself on Facebook holding a knife. When officers later searched his home, they found a BB gun and pellets.

Victim left frightened

In a victim impact statement read to the court, the teenager said the incident left her fearing for her safety.

“I was really scared, believing he was going to come to my address,” she said.

“I’m genuinely scared about what he might do, because I know he’s capable of violence.”

Defence cited drug dependency

Representing Gurney, solicitor Tom Lloyd said his client had been heavily dependent on drugs at the time of the offence.

“Since this incident he has addressed his drug issues and is very remorseful for what happened,” he told the court.

“He said some extremely foolish and unpalatable things, but he meant no harm.”

Mr Lloyd also disputed the prosecution’s suggestion that Gurney had been in a relationship with the victim.

Jail term imposed

After considering the case, the judge sentenced Gurney to 18 months’ imprisonment.

A restraining order was also imposed preventing him from contacting the victim.

A MAN accused of assault following an incident at a Tenby hotel has denied the allegation and will now stand trial later this year.

Leon Jenkins, aged thirty-two, of Bryn Terrace, Lletty Brongu, Maesteg, appeared before Swansea Crown Court on Monday (Mar 9) where he pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The charge relates to an alleged incident at The Dunes Hotel in Tenby.

The case was previously heard at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, where magistrates declined jurisdiction and sent the matter to the Crown Court due to the seriousness of the allegation.

During the earlier hearing, prosecutors did not outline details of the injuries said to have been sustained and the complainant has not been publicly identified.

At Monday’s Crown Court hearing Jenkins formally denied the charge.

He was granted conditional bail and the case was listed for trial.

The matter is due to be heard before a judge and jury at Swansea Crown Court on August 18.

Police appeal for witnesses after midday incident

POLICE are appealing for information after a man exposed himself to a woman on a popular walking and cycling route between Rosemarket and Johnston.

The incident happened at around 12:00pm on Thursday (Mar 5) on the Brunel cycle path.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the victim was walking along the path when a man on a bicycle cycled past her. A short time later, the same man returned from the direction he had initially travelled and approached the woman before exposing himself.

The offender then cycled away from the scene in the direction of Neyland.

The man is described as being of slim build and was wearing a black balaclava along with a grey top and grey bottoms. The victim believes the bicycle he was riding was black.

Detective Constable Imogen Nunnick, from North Pembrokeshire CID, is appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who has information that could help identify the man to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police online, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101 and quoting reference 26*179651.

Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111 or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.