Man on surfboard harassed estranged wife

A surfer has admitted contravening a court order by shouting at his estranged wife as they both surfed off Polzeath beach. Christopher Jones also admitted standing outside Emma Jones's Wadebridge address waving and grinning at her. Jones, 48, of West Park, Wadebridge, pleaded guilty to two charges of harassment in breach of a restraining order when he appeared before Bodmin magistrates.

Jill Wilson, for the prosecution, said that Jones had been handed a the two-year restraining order on September 1 last year prohibiting him from contacting Mrs Jones, except through solicitors, because he had previously harassed Mrs Jones. But within six days of the order being made, Jones was seen waving at her and grinning opposite her home, said Mrs Wilson. Just over three weeks later, on September 29, Mrs Jones was surfing at Polzeath when she saw Jones come into the water. She tried to paddle away but he shouted at her: "Why won't you talk to me? It won't hurt."



The incident had left Mrs Jones feeling very vulnerable, said Mrs Wilson, so much so that she asked another surfer to accompany her back to the shore. That surfer witnessed Jones shouting and behaving in an aggressive manner both to Mrs Jones and to other surfers. Mrs Wilson told the court that Jones had a previous conviction for a domestic assault. Chris Andrews, for the defence, said that Jones was currently under probation supervision with a domestic abuse programme. He had been severely depressed and had had difficulty in dealing with the breakdown of his marriage.

He accepted much of what had been alleged but had initially been waving at his son when Mrs Jones saw him outside her home. It had then been a coincidence when later that month they both ended up surfing at the same beach. There had been no suggestion that Jones had used any violence. The case was adjourned until February 22 for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and Jones was bailed with conditions.