A MAN who assaulted his partner and carried out a campaign of harassment threatening to kill her and another family member has been jailed for six months and given a 10 year restraining order.

Ashley Paul Rowe bombarded the victim with hundreds of text messages and phone calls, turned up at her home in Crewkerne unannounced and barged his way into her friend’s address while she was visiting.

As well as making threats to family members he sent a message saying: “I’m coming over. It’s the end now, I might as well be in prison, you’re dead.”

On another occasion he went to her address and carried out a wrecking spree causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage to property including a computer, television and front door lock.

He also damaged her friend’s car by scraping around the entire bodywork with a sharp object causing substantial damage and was also caught drug driving.

Rowe, 29, of Shelley Close, Yeovil, pleaded guilty to driving a VW Polo on Grass Royal in Yeovil on April 3 when the proportion of a controlled drug, namely Delta-9 in his blood exceeded the specified limit.

He also admitted being in possession of a quantity of cannabis (class B) on May 28 and was convicted following a trial of damaging a Vauxhall Zafira belonging to Vivienne Rowe at Crewkerne on the same date.

During another trial he was convicted of damaging televisions, a cooker, a child seat, a crib and a carry cot belonging to his partner at an address in Crewkerne on May 7.

He was also found guilty following another trial of a charge that between May 10 and May 23 he pursued a course of conduct which amounted to the harassment of his partner in that he made numerous electronic contacts and contacted her in person.

Again following a trial Rowe was convicted of assaulting his partner by beating her at Yeovil on June 26 and admitted driving a Ford Focus on Woodland Grove in Yeovil without due care and attention on June 28.

Prosecutor Emma Lenanton said that the majority of the offences involved Rowe’s former partner which was a huge aggravating feature in the case.

She said the harassment offence involved incidents in April, May and June which were quite protracted, and during that period his partner gave birth to their child.

“She received over 200 texts and other messages and hundreds of calls from Rowe which also involved him turning up at her address,” she said.

“He also went to her friend’s address and barged in causing distress to a child who was present, and some of the messages that were sent were of a threatening nature.

“One of them was a call where he said he would kill her and another family member, and although she did not necessarily believe he would have harmed anyone else, she was concerned about harm to herself.

“In another message he said he was coming over and it was the end now adding that he may as well be in prison and she was “dead”.

When the police were at the victim’s address taking a statement Rowe called her again which was witnessed by an officer.

Miss Lenanton said the victim had told police of her concern and the impact of Rowe’s behaviour on her and her family.

She said he had constantly bombarded her with messages and phone calls and it was really difficult for her to feel safe in his presence. She also expressed her intention to move.

In a statement she said: “I really don’t know what he will do next. He is unstable and I can’t live my life like this as it is affecting everyone and everything around me.

“He needs to realise he has to stop and get some professional help.”

The court heard that Rowe had also caused damage to a car belonging to his partner’s friend on May 28.

Panels on the rear of the vehicle along with the doors, bonnet and front wing were damaged while she was visiting Rowe’s partner in Crewkerne.

“When he left the address he was seen walking around and scraping the entire vehicle with an object he had in his hands,” said Miss Lenanton.

“On May 7 the defendant caused damage to property inside his partner’s house including a computer, televisions, child seat, baby’s crib and a front door lock with a total value of £1,489.”

Defending solicitor Ligeia Girard said that Rowe was willing to undertake unpaid work and also had a job to go to. She also said that most of the offending had been to do with child contact.

“He is also willing to engage in the Probation programme of Building Better Relationships and has had time to reflect about the impact on others,” she said.

The magistrates sent Rowe to prison for a total of six months and also disqualified him from driving for 24 months.

They also imposed a 10 year restraining order during which time he must not contact the victim directly or indirectly except as directed by Childrens Social Care in relation to child contact only.

In passing sentence presiding magistrate Judy Watson said: “You really need to understand just how appalling your behaviour has been and the impact on your partner and others.”