Dad threatened to 'rip ex to shreds' over contact with son

A LLANELLI taxi firm boss threatened to rip his ex-partner to shreds after he followed her when she drove away from school with his son, a court has heard.

Town magistrates were told that Andrew Roberts, 34, of Dythel Park, Trimsaran, used threatening, abusive and insulting words and behaviour with intent to cause fear of, or provoke unlawful violence.

Vaughan Pritchard-Jones, prosecuting, said Roberts and his victim, Teresa Delaney, had issues over contact with their son.

The court heard Miss Delaney went to the school to pick up her sister's two children, and her son, who is the defendant's son, who goes to the same school.

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It was the day the defendant had access to him and Roberts was there to pick him up from school and take him home in the evening, he said.

However, it appeared the son saw his mother and did not want to go with his father. She then started driving back to her sister's house when the defendant, who had also picked up two children of his current girlfriend, followed her as he wanted to have access to his son.

Mr Pritchard-Jones said Roberts "blocked the car so they couldn't get back out".

He said Roberts then got out of the car and started shouting, saying "get my son out" of the car, and swearing.

The complainant told him the boy did not want to see him that day and was upset, and he should leave.

He said the children were getting upset at his "ranting and raving".

Roberts tried the doors at the front and rear, but they were locked.

The court heard he then threatened that if his son wasn't taken out of the car he was going to put his fist through the window.

The complainant refused and Roberts then shouted for him to get out of the car or "I'll rip you to shreds".

Mr Pritchard-Jones said Miss Delaney was "very fearful at that point."

Her sister started phoning the police on her mobile and Roberts became abusive, calling her "a fat bitch", and to put the phone down.

They then managed to move the car away and to contact the police.

Roberts, who at an earlier hearing pleaded not guilty, was convicted by magistrates.

Rhys Davies, in mitigation for Roberts, said there had been a number of stresses with contact orders and he had "lost his temper".

He said the exchange lasted a matter of seconds. The court heard Roberts was the manager of a taxi firm and had 26 employees.

He was in breach of a conditional discharge for two offences of battery, both in a domestic setting involving other women.

Roberts was given a 12-month community order and was ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work for the community.

A restraining order was made preventing him contacting Teresa Delaney.

shaun.greaney@swwmedia.co.uk