Rhyl,North Wales - “If I can’t have you, no one else can”: St Asaph man jailed for menacing ex-boyfriend holding knife

Published date: 22 November 2016 | 

Published by: Staff reporter
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A man who could not come to terms with the fact that his former boyfriend had a new partner sent him a message saying “If I can’t have you, no one else can”.

Stephen James Roberts, 27, approached him holding a knife as he returned to his Rhyl home.

Mold Crown Court heard how he also made unpleasant threats about raping his former partner’s parents.

Judge Peter Heywood said that was probably said in the heat of the moment and he accepted he had no intention of carrying out his threats.

He had not pointed the knife at anyone and no one had been injured.

But there could nevertheless have been a serious incident, the judge told him.

He added there was always the potential for injury when people carried weapons in public, particularly when motivated by anger or affected by alcohol of drugs.

Roberts, of Chester Street, St Asaph, was jailed for eight months after he admitted possessing the knife in the street and obstructing police.

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That charge arose out his behaviour in hospital after his arrest. A two-year restraining order was made not to approach the complainant and his family and he is not to enter the street in Rhyl where they live.

The court heard how in hospital, after arrest, the defendant said that it was part of “his masterplan”.

He said it was where he wanted to be and said he knew the hospital like the back of his hand.

The defendant also resisted when police went to put his handcuffs back on him after medical treatment.

Prosecuting barrister Michael Whitty told how the complainant’s family were asked to dial 999 when the defendant approached the complainant’s home.

Interviewed, Roberts denied any wrongdoing and made threats about witnesses, saying “no one lies about me and gets away with it”.

Sarah Yates, defending, said Roberts had been in custody since July and was making good progress, but had issues that needed to be addressed by the probation service.

Without intervention, he would have the same issues on his release, she said.http://www.rhyljournal.co.uk/news/169357/-if-i-can-t-have-you-no-one-else-can-st-asaph-man-jailed-for-menacing-ex-boyfriend-holding-knife.aspx