A man from Newtown avoided being sent to jail over Christmas and New Year after he breached a restraining order banning him from contacting his ex-partner just days after appearing in court.
Andrew Tanswell, of The Bank, Newtown, was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison but it was suspended for 12 months after he pleaded guilty to three counts of breaching a restraining order at Mold Magistrates' Court on Friday, December 22.
The 58-year-old admitted sending text messages to his ex on November 25 and December 15, as well as leaving a voice mail message on December 20. He received an eight-week prison sentence for each offence.
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A restraining order lasting five years which banned him from contacting his ex and members of her family had been imposed by Welshpool Magistrates' Court on November 14.
Magistrates in Mold last week decided that because the offences were "so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified".
The court also acknowledged that Tanswell committed the offences shortly after a six-month suspended sentence order was imposed last month for intimidation, with nine weeks for harassment and two weeks for the menacing messages to his brother to be served concurrently.
However they decided to suspend his prison sentence because they believe there was a "realistic prospect of rehabilitation".
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