A SEAVINGTON man who terrified his ex by confronting her twice while she was in a car, assaulting her on one occasion, also went to her home and trashed her CCTV system.

Matthew Leslie Reyland approached the victim after standing in front of a car which she was a passenger in and grabbed her hand through the window trying to drag her out.

A few weeks later she was at a petrol station when the defendant whistled at her, stood by her open car widow and ripped off a plastic wheel trim from the vehicle putting it on her windscreen and shouted: “This is just the start”.

On another occasion he went to his ex’s home in Crewkerne, started knocking on the door saying he wanted to talk to her.

When she refused he hurled abuse at her and ripped down both her CCTV cameras at the front of her property before driving off.

Reyland, 32, pleaded guilty to assaulting his former partner by beating her at South Petherton on September 5 last year.

He also admitted two counts of causing criminal damage at South Petherton on September 28 and at Crewkerne on November 7.

Prosecutor Suzie Butler said that during the first incident Reyland approached his ex when he saw her with a friend and was asking to get back together with her.

“She was a passenger in her friend’s car and it then drove off but the defendant followed it on a motorcycle and stopped in front of the vehicle,” she said.

“Reyland then approached the car and grabbed her hand through the open passenger window and her friend drove off as the victim was screaming in pain as it appeared the defendant was trying to pull her out of the car.”

On September 28 the victim drove her car to South Petherton service station for fuel and when she drove away she heard a loud whistle and saw that Reyland was approaching her.

“She panicked and locked the door and Reyland then stood by her partially opened window and ripped off a plastic wheel trim, shouted at her that this was just the start and then put it on her windscreen,” said Miss Butler.

“The victim was scared so drove away, and when the defendant was interviewed by police he said that on the first occasion he had been following the car but was unaware that his ex was inside it.

“He went to speak to her and put his hand on the sill and she put her hand on top of his in a friendly gesture and said he did not assault her.”

On November the victim was at home in Crewkerne in her bedroom when she heard the sound of screeching tyres and then heard a tapping and knocking noise on her door and it was Reyland asking to talk.

He then shouted insults at her and said her CCTV was "coming down”.

She heard more banging and then Reyland drove away, and she later discovered that both her CCTV cameras, which she had installed due to previous issues with the defendant, had been ripped down.

The complainant made a victim impact statement which was read to the court saying that Reyland’s behaviour was getting worse and she was becoming increasingly concerned about what he might do in the future.

She said: “I believe he may cause me serious harm and I am aware he is using cocaine and has serious mental health issues.

“I really don’t want to have to worry about bumping into him and I fear he will go further.

“He has threatened there is more to come and I just want to bring up my children without fear.”

Defending solicitor Sam Morton said that Reyland claimed he had been tricked by the complainant into going to her house on November 7 as she had continually rung him saying she missed him and gave him her address which he had been banned from attending due to his bail conditions.

“He said he drove to her address and parked round the back but he then saw the CCTV cameras and was upset as he realised she had been deliberately trying to get him into trouble,” he said.

“The victim is also pregnant with my client’s child and his father says this court process has ruined his son and his mental health has deteriorated as a consequence.

“However he is now making small inroads and trying to improve his life and get things back on track.”

The magistrate sentenced Reyland to a 12 month community order with 50 hours unpaid work. They also ordered him to pay £15 compensation for the wheel trim and £100 for the CCTV cameras along with £350 towards costs and an £85 victim surcharge.