GV - Ipswich Crown Court

Husband breached court order

A husband who couldn’t cope with the breakdown of his marriage breached a court order by allegedly going to his wife’s home and trying to shoulder barge the front door, a court has heard. Having failed to get in the front door, Stuart Blake allegedly went to the back of the house and tried the handle of a rear door to the property which was locked, Ipswich Crown Court was told.

Blake’s wife Rachel had been in the house at the time and when police stopped him shortly afterwards as he was walking along Shakespeare Road they found he was in possession of a starter’s pistol, said Philip Farr, prosecuting.

Blake, 44, of Crescent Road, Ipswich, admitted breach of a restraining order and possession of an imitation firearm on September 19.

Mr Farr told the court that Blake had appeared before magistrates on September 3 and had been jailed for eight weeks and made the subject of a restraining order restricting his contact with his wife for an offence of harassment.

He was released from prison on September 17 and two days later he telephoned his wife 20 times. He also followed his wife into a local school and was spoken to by the headmaster.

After his wife went home, Blake allegedly went round and knocked at the door, before hitting the door and trying the back door handle.

Steven Dyble, for Blake, said his client had been with his wife for 20 years and had found it hard to deal with the end of the relationship.

He said Blake didn’t accept going round to her house and trying to force open the door.

Judge David Goodin adjourned the hearing to hear evidence from Blake and his wife on the matter.