A POWYS man has been handed a suspended jail term after “wilfully and persistently” failing to comply with a court order following assaults on two women.

Luke Risdon assaulted the two women – one of whom was his partner at the time – on two separate dates earlier this year. In June he was handed a 12-month community order by Welshpool Magistrates Court, which ordered him to carry out unpaid work and complete rehabilitation.

However, Wrexham Maelor Magistrates' Court sentenced the 23-year-old to serve 18 weeks in prison when he appeared there on Friday, September 23, due to the fact he had persistently failed to adhere to the order. The term of imprisonment will though be suspended for 18 months.

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Risdon, of Mynydd Dwlan Mawr, Llangadfan, assaulted Alisha Beech on April 30 and then also assaulted Lucy Alston on May 8 – both offences occurred in Llanfyllin.

Risdon subjected the women to a torrent of abuse on both occasions, which happened in the early hours.

His initial sentencing hearing was told he grabbed his partner at the time by the arm and dragged her to the front door after barraging her with offensive insults.

He was “ranting and completely unreasonable”, with his behaviour described as “crazy”.

Magistrates in Wrexham last month said the reason for uplifting the sentence was because of the defendant’s “wilful and persistent failure to comply with the requirements of a community order”.

He was handed 18 weeks custody for each assault; the terms will be served concurrently if they are ever activated.

He must complete 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 120 hours of unpaid work, and also pay £65 costs.