Jailed for ‘bizarre’ biblical messages
A MAN bombarded his ex-wife with messages about marriage and adultery after falling under the influence of “extreme” American Christians, a court has heard.
Jason Kenneth Evans, 46, had been slapped with restraining orders prohibiting him from contacting his former partner or writing things about her online because of his previous behaviour.
But they did not deter him from posting a series of messages on Facebook following the end of their 17-year relationship.
Hannah George, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court that during May, June and July this year Evans “persistently” breached the terms of his restraining order by posting messages on Facebook which contained biblical references about marriage, divorce, and adultery. She said it was clear to his partner that Evans had been checking her social media updates as many of his comments appeared to be in response to what she was saying, especially when she posted about her relationship with her new partner.
At the time Evans was subject to two suspended prison sentences for previous breaches of restraining orders. These sentences had been imposed for numerous breaches which had included posts on Facebook referring to his “convent wife” and “Godly wife”, and to making a video of himself crying and professing his love for his ex which featured a guitar decorated with biblical quotes and which he uploaded to an old shared Google drive.
In an impact statement from Evans’ exwife which was read to court she said she thought his behaviour was “becoming even more bizarre and delusional”, and it had left her feeling anxious.
Evans, of Maes y Farchnad, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching a restraining order when he appeared for sentencing.
Matt Murphy, for Evans, said the court may be concerned about the biblical nature of references the defendant had been posting.
He said his client was a “deeply spiritual man” and, like other people who are deeply religious or who have strong views or beliefs, he was susceptible to ideas he was exposed to on social media.
The advocate said Evans had begun following an “extreme Christian group” based in America whose members had “given him guidance in terms of their beliefs on marriage and divorce”.
He said while Evans has “deep-seated emotional ties to the complainant” he realised his involvement with the conservative US group and the way it interpreted passages from the Bible had put him at jeopardy of a lengthy custodial sentence, and he wished to return to a “more mainstream version of his faith”.
Giving the defendant a one-third discount for his guilty pleas, Judge Wayne Beard sentenced him to 10 months in prison.
He also activated two months of the previously-imposed suspended sentences to run consecutively with the 10 months making an overall sentence of 12 months. Evans will serve up to half that period in custody before being released on licence.