Lindsay-Jones, Chacewater sentence for threats to neighbours

A victim statement from one of Paul Lindsay-Jones’ elderly neighbours read out at Truro Magistrates’ Court today (Monday, November 20) said that if she saw him again she would be “terrified” and now felt like a prisoner in her own home because of his threatening behaviour.

Lindsay-Jones, 60, had previously pleaded guilty to using threatening words and abuse with intent to cause fear and unlawful violence to his neighbour Helena Lawrence, a fellow Cornwall Housing tenant living at The Retreat, Kerley Hill, Chacewater, near Truro.

Sam Rogers, prosecuting, told the court that on June 15 this year Mrs Lawrence was sitting in her garden with her husband when she heard Lindsay-Jones shouting and swearing in a communal grass area at the council-managed bungalows. She went back inside but later returned to her garden to read a book.

Mrs Lawrence was again forced to go back inside due to her neighbour’s language and behaviour. She closed her living room window to ensure she could not hear his language and that’s when Lindsay-Jones’ behaviour worsened.

He started banging on her window with “significant force”, leaving Mr Lawrence fearing it would smash. Lindsay-Jones was shouting “I’m going to f***ing kill you” and repeatedly used the F-word and C-word at his pensioner neighbours, who then rang 999.

This incident and more were captured on CCTV, which can be viewed above. Lindsay-Jones asked that the film be shown in court, but chief magistrate Georgie Higgs didn’t think it was necessary as he’d already pleaded guilty.

The court heard he went back to his bungalow but returned to the Lawrences’ living room window, saying “I’m going to kill you all with my gun”. Another neighbour witnessed him saying there were a “bunch of c***s here”.

The police then arrived and heard him say “I’ve got a gun and will shoot the f***ing lot of you”. He approached the police with his fists raised, saying: “F*** off, I’ll fight you, f*** off.” He was then arrested.

In a statement, Mrs Lawrence told the court that she would feel terrified if she saw Lindsay-Jones again and that she was now scared to go out in her garden and felt like a prisoner in her own home.

The case was briefly adjourned while the suitability of imposing a curfew on Lindsay-Jones was explored. The probation service returned to say it was deemed unsuitable due to the “dispute” with his neighbours and that a curfew could heighten the chance of Lindsay-Jones reoffending.

Dave and Helena Lawrence say they have become prisoners in their own home.

The court was told that if the defendant – who was described as having complex mental health issues – heard banging on neighbouring walls and doors it could “exacerbate the situation”.

Support workers from homeless charity St Petrocs told the magistrates that The Retreat was not suitable accommodation for their client and they advocated for him to be moved out of the council house “immediately”, initially into one of the council’s pods or another form of emergency housing while a more suitable place to live was found for him. They were liaising with Cornwall Council to ensure this happened as soon as possible.

Lindsay-Jones was given a 12-month community order to include 20 rehabilitation days to allow him to concentrate on his mental health and anger management, and attempt to “become a more productive member of society” as stated by Mrs Higgs. He was ordered to pay a fine and costs of £434. He was also given a two-year restraining order ensuring he does not contact or go near Mrs Lawrence’s address.

The Packet has previously reported on the incident and other examples of Lindsay-Jones’ threatening and abusive behaviour towards Mr and Mrs Lawrence and his other neighbours in Chacewater, all of whom are pensioners.

The Cornwall councillor for the area, Dulcie Tudor, has been supporting The Retreat’s residents and fighting for Lindsay-Jones to be moved to more suitable accommodation. She was present in court and was pleased to hear a move is now in progress.