A EXMOUTH man has been given a suspended sentence for harassing a barmaid at Fat Jax bar, in Victoria Road. Glyn Jones, 56, of Morton Road, pursued and intimidated the victim from November to January, the court heard.

A EXMOUTH man has been given a suspended sentence for harassing a barmaid at Fat Jax bar, in Victoria Road.

Glyn Jones, 56, of Morton Road, pursued and intimidated the victim from November to January, the court heard.

He failed to attend court for sentencing at Central Devon Magistrates' Court on September 14 and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Jones pleaded guilty to breach of bail and was given a seven-day sentence, along with 18 weeks for harassment - both suspended for 18 months.

Prosecuting, Neil Lawson said Jones had been friends with the victim since 2004. But on November 17 of last year, the victim received an anonymous post card saying Jones' daughter was in a relationship with her partner of seven to eight years.

The relationship ended and the victim admitted she had said things about Jones' daughter in the heat of the moment. But Jones later accused her of spreading rumours and said: "Go anywhere near my daughter and I'll put a f****** bullet through your head."

She said Jones would stand at the bar and stare at her and intimidate her. Witnesses had seen Jones outside Fat Jax, banging his head against the window, saying he was going to kill her.

The victim said the intimidation destroyed her confidence and caused her sleeping problems.

Summarising, Mr Lawson said the court had deemed the victim a credible witness and had found Jones to be inconsistent.

Central Devon Magistrates, sitting at Exeter, heard Jones, a former marine, had three previous convictions.

But the probation report was questioned by Jones' defence solicitor, Peter Woodley, who said there was no evidence to back some details.

In the report, Jones said he had been sentenced to six year's imprisonment by Belfast Crown Court and had cut people's fingers off.

Mr Woodley said: "He didn't cut anyone's fingers off. If he did, he would have been asked to leave [the forces] sooner - probably by way of prison."

He said they did not have a record of this prison sentence.

He added: "He was asked by probation officers if he killed people. He said 'yes I did, it was part of my job'." Mr Woodley argued this was a reasonable response and the errors may have been the result of a misunderstanding.

He argued other details were also unsubstantiated, such as the forces' diagnosis that Jones had a psychiatric illness. Mr Woodley said: "He's killed people but he's not a psychopath."

Mr Woodley said Jones had been convicted of a non-aggressive offence, resulting from a situation which was 'emotionally charged.'

Jones was issued with a restraining order not to contact the victim - either directly or indirectly - for three years. He was ordered to adhere to a four-month curfew from 7pm to 7am, on Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

He was not ordered to pay costs because he is on incapacity benefits.