A domestic abuser who showed flagrant disregard for a court by breaching a restraining order imposed just weeks earlier for intentionally strangling his ex-partner has been sent to prison.
Kerry Reeve, aged 48, of The Beacon, Falmouth appeared at Truro Crown Court today (June 29) for sentencing after he was caught living in the flat of the woman he was banned from seeing.
When police arrested him at the flat in Church Street he told them he was staying there because his flat had hardly any furniture and his partner’s flat was more comfortable.
The court heard that on April 27 this year Reeve had been sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for two years, by the crown court for intentional strangulation of his partner on July 7 last year and three months, suspended for 24 months, for possession of a bladed article, a bracelet with a pointed blade, on February 22 last year in Church Street car park.
He was also made the subject of a three year restraining that he not contact the woman in any way.
Appearing at crown court today he admitted breaching that order.
The court heard that police were called to the woman’s flat in Church Street on May 30 this year over concerns for a woman’s safety after the neighbours heard a couple arguing.
At first the woman denied that Reeve was there but eventually let them in and he was found inside and arrested.
The prosecution said the breach was aggravated by the fact it was made very shortly after the order was made.
He had already been in custody for 29 days.
His defence barrister told the court that his ex-partner had applied for the restraining order to be removed but that had been refused. He claimed the partner had contacted Reeve but said it would be difficult to argue against the instatement of the sentences.
Sentencing Reeve to 12 months in prison, the judge told him he had been given an “extraordinary chance” with the suspended sentences but he had “thrown it straight back in the court’s face”.
READ NEXT:
Harbour quay is 'partially' reopened to public after recent wall collapse
He said: “It is no mitigation whatsoever that she contacted you as is so often the case in allegations of domestic violence by people who are vulnerable.
“Probably the most telling comment is in the evidence of the police officer who conducted the arrest. He indicated that you said not only had you gone back in order to assist but also that your own property had very little furniture in it and it was much more comfortable at [her flat].”
He said the breach of the order occurred within weeks of that order being imposed and the fact he’d been there more than a week.
For the breach of the order he was given two months in custody. For the breach of suspended sentence, 12 months. Both sentences to run concurrently.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here