Man jailed after damaging Holywell flat and elderly woman's home

Connor Tabner, of Grosvenor Road in Prestatyn, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The 20-year-old had been convicted of numerous offences at a previous hearing, including assaulting a police officer, criminal damage and using threatening or abusive words or behaviour.

Prosecutor Justin Espie told the court that on the morning of December 20 last year, a Prestatyn woman in her late 80s heard Tabner banging "violently" on the rear door of her home.

She locked herself in a bathroom with another person to protect them as Tabner broke his way into the property, "screaming like a madman."

In a victim impact statement, the woman said she was struggling to comprehend what was happening but when she saw her home afterwards it was an "absolute bloodbath."

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It was believed Tabner had cut himself on glass when forcing entry.

The victim said in her statement that she trembles thinking about the incident.

When police arrived, the defendant was on the floor and spat in an officer's face when he was being dealt with.

He claimed to have had alcohol and cocaine that night, and that he'd been "accosted" by a group of men - prompting him to force his way into the house to get away from them.

Then, on January 3, Tabner was at the home of his then girlfriend Courtney Wiltshire in Holywell, where he had been staying for a few days.

Ms Wiltshire went to work but was informed later that day that someone was smashing her flat up.

When she got home she found tiles smashed, a broken beer bottle in a sink, a smashed window, furniture thrown around, and food and debris scattered everywhere.

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There was also a smell of cannabis in the property.

Police had already been called to the scene, where they found Tabner "high as a kite."

He was immediately confrontational with officers, telling them "I will bite your face off," and "this is my girlfriend's flat - suck my d***."

He continued to hurl abuse at the officers on the way to a custody suite, spitting in the vehicle.

Gary Harvey, defending, told the court: "It's fair to day this gentleman is very remorseful.

"He's ex-Army and he has been blighted by his substance misuse, alcohol and mental health issues."

He said his client became more difficult under the influence of alcohol, when his "paranoia sets in."

The court heard that as part of an ongoing suspended sentence order, Tabner had responded well to requirements - completing in excess of the required unpaid work hours and observing an alcohol abstinence order without breach.

Connor Tabner. Image: North Wales Police

District Judge Gwyn Jones said this showed Tabner was someone who could ordinarily work very positively, but not when he is under the influence.

With the activation of the breached suspended sentence and an additional 26 weeks custody imposed, Tabner was jailed for a total of 54 weeks.

The District Judge added: "While in Berwyn there will be specialist teams to provide you with help.

"Don't make matters worse by taking substances there.

"You have shown that degree of commitment in the past and I am sure you can show it to yourself now by not involving yourself in unlawful activities and taking substances which, to put it crudely, mess your head up."

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