A man attacked in his home by an intruder with a knife believes his doorbell monitor may have saved his life. Gareth Jones was in bed when he got a message to say someone was at the door.
Stephen Douglas, 33, got in and confronted a “petrified” Mr Jones in his Wrexham home. Mold Crown Court heard Douglas, of Heol-Y-Fro, Coedpoeth, Wrexham, admitted affray and possession of a knife.
The court heard a woman had been in a relationship with Mr Jones for 17 years before they separated in March last year. The following month the woman began a relationship with the defendant, but that relationship ended two months later in June last year, said prosecutor Rosemary Proctor. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here
The woman felt there were issues between the two men which impacted on her relationship with Douglas. On June 23 last year Mr Jones got a voicemail message telling him: “You’ve got it f****** coming.”
Douglas took keys from the woman’s house and went to Mr Jones’ house in Stanley Grove, Wrexham that night at 10.45pm. Mr Jones got a notification message from his doorbell monitor that someone was at the door.
Mr Jones got out of bed and saw a person – who was Douglas – in his house. Mr Jones “booted” Douglas down the stairs and both ended up in the kitchen.
In the confrontation paint pots spilled over onto the kitchen floor and Mr Jones saw a knife which Douglas had brought. The knife wasn’t used but Mr Jones sustained a “nasty graze”, the court heard.
Police were called and Douglas’ DNA was found on the knife. In a statement Mr Jones said he thought he might be killed had he not been alerted to the defendant’s presence by the doorbell monitor.
He had been petrified and suffers flashbacks. Richard Edwards, defending, said Douglas and the woman had been in a relationship which ended due to “friction” and it had been an “unpleasant time” in their lives.
The defendant had been “unable to properly think through what was happening” and “unable to properly control his emotions”. Douglas accepts his decision to go to Mr Jones’ house was “foolish” and he wishes he could turn back the clock.
Douglas spent a month in custody on remand which has been “hell” and “deeply disturbing”, added his barrister. He was released on bail in July.
He has run a successful car repair business in Southsea for seven years. He lives with his mother and provides for his family.
The judge His Honour Niclas Parry told Douglas he had been bent on revenge and his victim had been petrified. But it had been out of character and he had shown remorse.
He jailed Douglas for 12 months for affray but suspended the term for 12 months. He must pay £1,750 compensation and £725 towards costs.
His punishment was being in custody on remand but he must attend 20 days of rehabilitation activity. There was no separate penalty for possession of a bladed article.
The judge also imposed a five-year restraining order prohibiting Douglas from contacting his victim.
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