AN 84-year-old Powys man has been told to stay away from his ex-wife indefinitely after he was found guilty of assaulting her after trial.

James Evans denied assaulting his ex-wife at the couple’s former home in Garthmyl, near Welshpool, on May 17 last year, but he was convicted of the offence at his trial in February.

Prosecutor Justin Espie told Welshpool Magistrates’ Court at a sentencing hearing last Tuesday, March 5, that the bench sitting at the trial had found the case against Evans proved beyond all reasonable doubt.

“They listened to her describe how her neck had been grabbed, there were photos of her injuries, and they heard a witness say she was trembling," he said.

Mr Espie said the couple had been married for a total of 62 years, including remarrying after they previously divorced.

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“The marriage was described as not good," he added. "They continued to live together as the divorce was being negotiated.

“On the day of the assault the defendant came out of the house and was shouting and swearing at her. He took hold of her neck and punched her to the neck.”

Mr Espie said the victim had requested a restraining order. He said Evans had no previous convictions.  

He read a victim impact statement from the victim, in which she said the attacked affected her "medically, physically and emotionally".

She added: “I want this nightmare to be over.”

Evans, now living in Weston Rhyn near Oswestry, spoke in his own defence and said he has been living on a camp bed, a settee and even his own car since moving out of the marital home.

“I’m in a flat, she’s in my bungalow, I worked all my life for it,” he said.

“She’s in my house. She was in a caravan and I went to find her and told her to come home. Now I’m in a caravan and she’s in my home.

“I rely on the support of my daughter and family. For 10 months I slept in a car, on camp beds, a settee.

“I borrowed a lot of money off my brother and daughter to buy a flat. We got married at 19, we had nothing. Now I’m starting from scratch again and she’s got everything.

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“It’s split the family in half, it’s wrong.”

Magistrates told Evans to comply with a 12-month community order, which will include 10 rehabilitation days and a prohibited activity requirement.

They granted an indefinite restraining order and told him not to contact Ms Evans directly or indirectly, except through a solicitor, and he must not attend at Bryn Teg, Garthmyl.

He was ordered to pay £770 costs, as well as a £114 surcharge, but they ordered no compensation, given his financial circumstances.