Teen who terrified ex caged

Sep 5 2007 By Paul Beard, Birmingham Mail

A TERRIFIED mother used a knife to fight off a man harassing her daughter, a court was told.

Paul Martin Davies was arrested after getting into his former girlfriend's Solihull home during the night and attacking her, only to be injured himself when her mother confronted him.

At Warwick Crown Court on Friday Davies, 19, formerly of Woodclose Road, Chelmsley Wood, was sentenced to two years detention after he had admitted a charge of harassment and breaching an earlier community order.

Davies was also made subject to a restraining order for five years, banning him from having any contact with his exgirlfriend Beth Cusack or her mother or going to their home in Headley Rise, Shirley.

Prosecuting, Graeme Simpson said that Davies began to harass 18-year-old Beth on the day he was released from prison where he had been remanded after being accused of robbing her.

That was resolved by him admitting an offence of affray, and because of the 105 days he had been in custody he was given a community order with 12 months supervision.

But Mr Simpson said that as soon as he was released after being given the community order, Davies made repeated phone calls and on July 23 Beth had a day off work and was asleep during the day when she woke to find him standing over her bed.

Davies said he wanted to get back with her but eventually he left. The next day Beth's mother Zena spoke to him and made it clear he was to stay away.

The next morning Beth, who was asleep in a chair downstairs, was woken by Davies who pinned her down and covered her mouth, put his fingers down her throat and gauged at her eyes.

The noise disturbed her mother who came downstairs holding a knife.

She tried to drag Davis out of the house, but he struggled and grabbed at the knife by the blade, causing cuts to his hand, before fleeing.

Shenaz Muzaffer, defending, said Davies was sorry for what he did and had not wished to cause Beth any harm, but they had been to the cinema together and he had thought their relationship was "back on track".

Davies was re-sentenced for the affray with a six-month sentence, with a consecutive 18 months for harassment.

Judge Marten Coates told him: "You were released and went straight back and began to harass this young lady. You entered the house at night when she was asleep and covered her face with your hand and put your fingers down her throat. I cannot think of anything more frightening."