A DOLGELLAU man’s angry rant at probation officers has earned him a prison sentence.

Edward Thornton, 59, of Forden House, had been given a suspended jail term at Bradford Crown Court in November for wounding a partner in the summer. But the suspended sentence was revoked and he was jailed for 12 months at Mold Crown Court last week after he admitted breaching the order.

He met two female probation officers at Dolgellau Police Station but became aggressive with them and started banging the table and pointing his fingers at them.

Judge Niclas Parry told him that he had been given a chance in November following a serious offence of violence.

He was on a conditional discharge for violence at the time.

But his response had been no to co-operate with probation officers who operated the orders.

“They will be protected,” he said. “The court will make sure of that by passing deterrent sentence.”

Prosecuting barrister Frances Willmott said that on 28 January the defendant met probation officers at the police station and was “threatening and abusive” and they feared violence would be used against them.

Both were trying to help the defendant with issues he raised including his electricity bill, but he said that he would murder anyone who attended at his address.

He was put in touch with the Citizens’ Advice Bureau but began shouting down the phone at the adviser.

The defendant ended up throwing the handset down. He banged the table with his hand and pointed his finger at the probation officers. Both managed to leave the room.

Defending barrister Owen Edwards said that his client was an unusual defendant. He was a graduate who had a lifetime of working but who had suffered some sort of mid-life crisis. He lost his job as a health and safety consultant in his 50s and had difficulties with his finances.

The relationship with the partner he had assaulted had ended and he had found himself in later life unemployable.

He described himself as a “shouting man” and he knew that had caused problems.

“I thought I would be faced with a shouting man when I went down to see him. But I didn’t,” said Mr Edwards.

“He is more than aware of the way that he is digging himself a bigger hole as a result of his conduct.”

Thornton did not like the idea that he had made females fear for their own safety, his barrister said. “He knows he needs to get a grip,” added Mr Edwards.

The defendant had managed to get himself rented property in Dolgellau and fundamentally misunderstood the purpose of the meeting with the probation officers.

He wanted help with his electricity bill but appreciated that they were not there to sort out his life for him.

Mr Edwards said that while the probation service said they could not work with him, he would be on supervision in any event after his release from any prison sentence.