A man who subjected his ex-girlfriend to a terrifying ordeal in the middle of the night has failed in his efforts to have his sentence reduced.

Stuart Pryde, of Nant y Gro in Gronant, appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court via video link from HMP Berwyn on Friday.

The 33-year-old had been convicted at a hearing in January of numerous offences including: breaches of a restraining order, driving without insurance and whilst disqualified, criminal damage and using violence to secure entry to a property.

At his hearing on Friday, he was appealing the 12 month sentence handed down to him by Llandudno Magistrates’ Court.

Laura Knightly, prosecuting, told the court the restraining order in question had been put in place in November 2022 to protect Pryde's ex-partner Cassey Taylor.

Within a few weeks of that order being imposed, Pryde made contact with her by attending her Gronant home address.

READ MORE: Woman attacked her mother over takeaway order after night out, court heard

On another day, he was driving through her area when he spotted her in the street and pulled up; asking her to get into his vehicle.

The most serious breach occurred in mid-January, Ms Knightly explained, when Ms Taylor was asleep at her home and she was woken by a banging noise.

It was Pryde, who entered the property and asked her: "Who's in that f****** house with you?

READ MORE: Prison and restraining order for Flintshire man guilty of TEN offences

"Who's jumped out of the bedroom window? Where is he?"

He was eventually persuaded to leave the property, at which point Ms Taylor discovered he'd damaged a door when he forced his way into the home.

In a victim personal statement, Ms Taylor said: "I don't believe he will take any notice of any court order - he's obsessed with me.

"His behaviour is caused by constant use of amphetamine and sleep depravation makes his behaviour worse."

She said she feels unsafe in her own home.

Make sure you don't miss the top court stories of the week by signing up to our free court newsletter

The Leader:

Sarah Yates, defending, said she didn't take issue with the part of the sentence imposed for the offending in January - which amounted to a 26 week custodial term.

But she felt the sentences imposed for the other two incidents outlined - which brought the overall term up to a year - were too long.

She asked Judge Timothy Petts to consider the principle of totality and her client's personal mitigation - which included the fact he hadn't served a custodial sentence until then.

After considering the sentence with colleagues, Judge Petts told the defendant: "We're going to dismiss your appeal - individually we may not have got there by the same method as the District Judge did, but the way the sentence has been structured provides an overall result we are satisfied is correct and it reflects totality."