A LLANDRINDOD Wells man has escaped immediate punishment despite going to his estranged partner’s home and damaging property after she told him she’d met someone else.

Christopher Sharp, 29, appeared at his victim's house on July 30, minutes after she’d text him about being with someone else; he started kicking in doors and verbally abusing her.

A domestic-related offence such as this would normally attract a stronger sentence, but magistrates sitting in Llandrindod this week instead issued Sharp with a conditional discharge – meaning he will not face punishment so long as he keeps out of trouble for the next year – because the couple have since reconciled.

Sharp, of Gorse Farm, Llandrindod, admitted one charge of causing criminal damage when he appeared at Llandrindod Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, November 23. The damage to doors at the property was said to have cost around £80.

Prosecutor Kevin Challinor said the victim in the case had been “unsupportive” of the case against her partner.

“The victim’s sister, who is a witness in this case, said the parties had separated two months prior to this incident,” said Mr Challinor.

“On the day she’d text him to say she’d met someone else. He responded in an unsavoury way, and minutes later she heard him coming through the complainant’s door.

“The inner door was locked, but he started kicking it. The noise was described as ‘loud and terrifying’ and it woke up a nine -month old baby who was asleep.

“The door was going due to the force. A big smash was then heard in the kitchen. He had opened an unlocked door at the back of the house, and was kicking that inner door, which broke.

“The witness put her hands out to stop the defendant, she told him that children were present and he shouldn’t make anything worse.

“Police were called and the defendant was arrested."

Gavin Rofer, acting for Sharp, said his client “bitterly regrets” the incident.

“Once he’d had the opportunity to calm down, he was the first to admit he’d lost his head to the police officer and he made a full and frank admission in interview,” said Mr Rofer.

“He is of previous good character, he has never been involved with the police before."

He added: “Given the reconciliation and his previous clean record, could he not be dealt with today by way of a conditional discharge? If so, it would be like having a Damocles sword hanging over him in terms of his future conduct.”

“It is appropriate to give you a conditional discharge for 12 months, the reason being is that it will act like a Damocles sword hanging over you,” chair of the bench, Ingrid Gallagher, told Sharp.

“If you commit any crime in the next 12 months you’ll be back here.”

Magistrates ordered no compensation, but Sharp must pay a £26 surcharge and £85 costs.