A MAN breached his restraining order for the 10th time after going to his parents’ house to "babysit" their dog while they went to the seaside.

Kirk Stevens threatened his stepfather Andrew Williams when they returned from Porthcawl following an argument about a mobile phone.

The 37-year-old defendant, of Berllanlwyd Avenue, Markham, near Blackwood, was made the subject of a restraining order in 2016 not to contact the couple.

Martha Smith-Higgins, prosecuting, said Stevens’ mother had gone to court to withdraw her restraining order.

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But, Cardiff Crown Court heard, the restraining order in force for Mr Williams was still in place.

Stevens was described as being “under the influence of drugs” when he and his stepfather clashed over the mobile phone on October 17.

He admitted breaching his restraining order and a charge of common assault after threatening Mr Williams.

Miss Smith-Higgins said Stevens had now breached his restraining order 10 times and had previously been jailed for ignoring it.

The defendant was most recently sent to prison for breaching it on October 16, 2020, when he was locked up for 12 weeks.

Jeffrey Jones, representing Stevens, who appeared in court via video link from Cardiff Prison, said: “The defendant had been asked to babysit their dog.

“Following his arrest, he has been in custody.

“There is remorse and he wants to put this behind him.

“He is close to his mother and there is a bond between him and her.”

The judge, Recorder Greg Bull QC, told Stevens: “You are 37 and find yourself in court for yet another breach of a restraining order.

“The sentence increases the more times this order is breached.”

The defendant was told he was entitled to a third discount for his guilty pleas which reduced his prison sentence from nine months to six months.

Stevens will have to serve half that sentence before he is released from jail.

He was also ordered to pay a £128 victim surcharge.