A Warrington man who breached a non-molestation order by phoning to ask his former partner why she put him in prison consequently found himself back behind bars.
Ronaldos Petkevicius, aged 45, who had breached similar orders previously, was arrested and kept in custody until yesterday (Thur) when he appeared at Liverpool Crown Court.
A judge heard that he had been sleeping in a tent in Orford Park but was now hoping to change his life for the better.
Derek Jones, prosecuting, explained that the defendant, a Lithuanian, had been in a relationship with Ludmila Kulakova for several years until 2020 when she obtained a non-molestation order from the family court.
“Since that was imposed there were several breaches and when the defendant was sentenced in February last year a restraining order was imposed by the court and contact was prohibited.
“That 18 month order was to last until August 9 this year and has now expired,” he said.
About 1 am on July 15 Ms Kulakova received a phone call from a voice she did not recognise and about two minutes later it rang again and she recognised the defendant’s voice.
“He said, ‘why did you put me into prison?’ She told him ‘I have my own problems’ and hung up. He did not threaten her but made her feel anxious.”
She contacted the police and he was arrested on July 18. Petkevicius, formerly of Parker Street, Warrington, made no comment when arrested.
In an impact statement the victim said him contacting her made her “feel sick with worry and scared about what might happen.”
She added that she no longer felt safe in her own home and it had affected her mental health, said Mr Jones.
Petkevicius pleaded guilty to breaching the order. The last sentence he received for such a breach was 52 weeks imprisonment.
Miles Wilson, defending, said that the couple’s relationship had “soured” after the defendant’s drinking got out of control.
“He had been released from jail in January and he has been living in a tent in a park though sometimes used a shelter.
“Messages were left at the shelter for him by the complainant which he ignored and she tried to contact him on the phone which he ignored but stupidly he rang her on this night.
“Thankfully there were no threats and it was relatively brief. What makes it even more stupid was that the order only had three weeks before it ended,” said Mr Wilson.
He said that the defendant wants help to address his issues and to get back into work. He is engaging with a local activity hub for those who have been involved in the criminal justice system and there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.
Judge Denis Watson, KC, told Petkevicius that his telephone call to the complainant was “an outrageous thing to do. You are the one who put yourself in prison by breaching a court order.
Sentencing him to 24 weeks imprisonment suspended for two years he said that he accepted he had been responding well after his release from his last sentence.
He also ordered him to carry out 35 days rehabilitation activities and imposed a seven year restraining order.
“If you haven’t worked out she’s not for you and you are not for her the sooner you realise that the better,” said Judge Watson.
