AN Amman Valley man who carried out a frightening campaign of harassment poured petrol at his ex-girlfriend's home and had cigarette lighters on him, Llanelli magistrates heard.

Gwynfor James, 66, of Cwmgarnant Farm, Garnant, pleaded guilty to a charge of harassing Marilyn Fenn.

The court heard that James had known Miss Fenn for 40 years and they had been in a relationship which ended last year.

Beth Thomas, prosecuting, said: "He has been completely unable to accept that the relationship is over, although she has made it clear that it is."

She said police were called when the woman heard somebody around the back of her property.

"They found the defendant and they could smell petrol.

"He poured petrol behind the drainpipe," said Beth Thomas.

"He said: 'I just did it to frighten her'. Clearly he did."

She added: "When he was searched, he was found to be in possession of cigarette lighters."

His car was searched and was found to contain an empty petrol can.

Beth Thomas said: "This was really frightening for the victim in this case of harassment."

She said he phoned her 11 times on Boxing Day and "made threats to her present partner, threatened to gouge his eyes out".

As a result, James was given a caution and a harassment warning.

Sinister

Months of telephone calls followed, and James turned up at one of Miss Fenn's hairdressing client's houses, the court heard.

"She was frightened on that occasion as well.

"She has suffered since Christmas this year with constant harassment, and the final occasion, with petrol, I suggest is sinister."

She urged the magistrates to make an order banning James from ever contacting Marilyn Fenn.

"She never wants to hear from him again," she said.

James's solicitor John Allchurch said he had already spent 61 days in custody and had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

He said there were no mental health issues and as far as the complainant was concerned, she would be "totally protected" by the restraining order.

Magistrates made a restraining order "not limited by time" for James not to contact Miss Fenn and not to enter Aberlash Road, Ammanford.

James was sentenced to 16 weeks' imprisonment.

shaun.greaney@swwmedia.co.uk