A WINSFORD man who spent the night in his former girlfriend's garden after threatening to burn her house down has been jailed. 

Nicky Fallows, formerly of Greenfields, turned up at his ex's Barnton home drunk on December 5 and 14, 2023, in breach of a restraining order.

On his first visit, the 38-year-old told her if he went back to jail, he'd set fire to her house.

When he returned on December 14, he banged on her door so hard and for so long she fled with her young child in her car, intending to sleep in it.

Only the cold weather forced her back to the house where she found him asleep in the garden.

When he woke up, he fled on a bike which he stole from her neighbour. 

He returned the bike to the police station on December 17, when he was arrested for theft and breach of a restraining order.

The order was made in respect of his ex on September 6, 2022, and he later served an eight-month prison sentence in 2023 for further offences against her.

The theft was dealt with by Chester magistrates by way of a £100 fine, but he was remanded in custody after pleading guilty to the breach offences.

When appearing at Chester Crown Court for sentencing on Tuesday, February 27, Catherine Higham, defending, said: “The crux of the issue is my client has a substantial drink problem.

“While he acknowledges this, where he falls down is in his attempts to address it.

“While he concedes there is a problem, and that he drinks as a form of self-medication for mental health issues, he doesn’t seem to want any help.

“While his victim was incredibly exasperated by these events, she also expressed concern for him to the police.”

She added Fallows has no memory of threatening her and has now lost his home after being remanded in custody for 10 weeks.

A spell in prison would provide a long period of abstinence, she said, which would allow him to 'get his head together'.

Passing sentence, Judge Simon Berkson said Fallow's victim was ‘extremely upset’ by the events of December 5 and 14, but as she provided no victim impact statement, the court was unable to accurately determine the harm he caused.

“It is only when you’re in drink that you commit these offences,” he said.   

Judge Berkson sentenced Fallows to 16 months in prison.

He also extended his restraining order in respect of his ex for five years from February 27, and ordered him to pay a victim surcharge.