A COURT has heard how a 17-year-old girl was left fearing for her life after a man threatened to chop off her ears and impose further injuries on her with a gun and a baseball bat.

Paul Gurney phoned the victim on the evening of February 11 when she was alone in a property in Whitland.

“The defendant and the victim had been in a relationship for a few months, and that night he called her and had a very slurred voice,” Crown Prosecutor Abigail Jackson told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“She could hear him throwing things in the background, and he accused her of being with someone else during their relationship.

“He then said he was going to come to her house and chop her ears off, and would also bring a gun and a baseball bat with him.”

Gurney rang the 17-year-old yet again that same evening, when he accused her of betraying him.

“You betrayed me, so now I’m going to betray you and your family,” he said.

Gurney, 32, of Maes Grug, Stop and Call, Goodwick, also posted a photograph of himself on Facebook which pictured him holding a knife. When officers carried out a search of his property, they discovered a BB gun and pellets.

A victim statement was read out to the magistrates, in which the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she now fears for her safety as a result of the incident.

“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.”

Gurney pleaded guilty to sending communications to the woman which threatened death and serious harm. 

 He was legally represented in court by Mr Tom Lloyd who informed the magistrates that at the time of the offence, Gurney was heavily dependent on drugs.

“Since this incident, he has addressed his drug issues and is very remorseful for what happened,” he said.  “He said some extremely foolish and unpalatable things to her, but he meant no harm.”

Mr Lloyd refuted the Prosecution’s allegation that Gurney had had a relationship with the victim.

After considering the mitigation, magistrates sentenced Gurney to a 12-month Community Order during which he must carry out 25 rehabilitation activity requirements and 150 hours of unpaid work.  He must also pay £120 compensation to his victim, a £114 court surcharge and £85 prosecution cost. 

A restraining order was imposed preventing him from having any contact with the victim.