A MAN from Flintshire whose partner of 20 years woke to find him pointing an air rifle at her has been released from custody.

Lewis Yarnold, 45, of Wats Road, Penyffordd, was sentenced to five-and-a-half months’ imprisonment at Mold Crown Court today (April 19).

But as he has already served half of this, having been remanded in custody since late January, Yarnold was released, but made subject to licence conditions for the next 12 months.

He had previously admitted a charge of possessing an imitation firearm with the intention of causing fear of violence.

Prosecuting, Emmalyne Downing told the court that, on January 23, Yarnold was informed that he had lost his job, and responded to this news by beginning to consume alcohol.

On the evening of January 24, he went to buy more alcohol, and by the time he returned home, his partner, Elizabeth Roberts, had retired to bed.

But Ms Roberts woke to see Yarnold pointing a .22 air rifle at her, saying: “I’ve been waiting to do this for a long time.”

Yarnold had not taken his medication prescribed to treat his mental health issues for a week at the time, the court heard.

In a statement, Ms Roberts said the incident left her in a “state of utter shock,” having initially thought it was a nightmare before she “screamed the house down”.

This “horrendous” incident, she added, rendered her unable to eat for some time afterwards, while she has also encountered difficulty sleeping and had to take time off work.

Though, she said she wishes to reconnect with Yarnold once he has addressed his alcohol and mental health issues.

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“When he is sober, he is lovely, but I couldn’t cope with his behaviour anymore,” she added.

Defending Yarnold, who had seven previous convictions for 16 offences, Philip Tully said his client “would do anything to try and rebuild the trust of his family”.

Sentencing, Judge Niclas Parry ordered Yarnold to pay a £154 statutory surcharge, as well as the forfeiture and destruction of the air rifle.

He urged Yarnold to “take your chance”.

Judge Parry added: “What an utterly terrifying incident for Elizabeth Roberts. She thought she was going to die."