A WREXHAM man who ordered two-men to break into a home and attack one of the occupants has been jailed.

Timothy Ramsay, of Heol Celyn in Coedpoeth, appeared at Mold Crown Court for sentencing on Tuesday, November 21.

The 36-year-old previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit burglary of a dwelling with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm at a Plea and Trial Preparation hearing on September 22. 

He further admitted that, on that same night, he had in his possession an offensive weapon, namely a baseball bat, as well as to drink driving and sending an offensive/obscene or menacing message by public communication network.

David Mainstone, prosecuting, told the court that the incidents took place on the evening of August 11.

At around 8.45pm, the occupants were at home on Albert Grove, Ruabon, when they heard noises outside.

Soon after, 'a long metal object' (a pole) smashed through the front door as two men entered the property shouting 'Where is he?'.

They were told by one of the occupants - Kayleigh Lancaster - that there were children present in the home - to try and deter them - but one of the men said he 'knew they weren't there'.

When she then tried to call 999, her phone was snatched away from her and 'thrown into a plant pot outside'.

The men left the property soon after they discovered that the person they were looking for was in fact not present.

It was said in court that the incident had arisen from a 'family feud' with one of the home's occupants believed to be 'unsafe around children' - something Judge Rhys Rowlands said proved to be 'entirely false'.

Although Ramsay was not present at the incident, it was said in court that he 'arranged for two men from Birmingham' to visit the Ruabon home and 'harm' one of the occupants within it.

On the same night, the defendant had sent threatening messages to that person telling him that the two men were going to 'snap' their legs.

Police arrested Ramsay some three hours later, as he was driving around not far from where the incident took place.

When he was apprehended by officers, they found a baseball bat in his vehicle and was also found to be drunk with a breathalyser recording a reading of 82 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

Patrick Williamson, defending, said that the offences were a 'source of regret' which Ramsay 'dwells on each day'.

He added that the defendant, supported in court by several family members, was a 'good candidate' for rehabilitation.

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However, Judge Rowlands added that the incidents had 'had a profound effect' on the victims and that they were 'far too serious' for him not to impose an immediate custodial sentence.

As such, Ramsay was given a sentence of 21 months in jail, with the conspiring to commit burglary being the lead charge.

He was further handed two months for the possession of the baseball bat, to run concurrently alongside count one.

Ramsay faced no separate penalties for the drink driving or for the sending of abusive/threatening messages, but will be disqualified from driving for a period of 34 months.

A restraining order was also made, preventing the defendant from contacting the victim, to last for a period of five years.