Rugby coach from Northwich banned from seeing his daughters

Mark Phoenix, of Hayes Drive in Barnton, has been handed a two-year restraining order.

It comes after the 46-year-old admitted to using threatening and abusive language, as well as violently trying to enter a property, having tried to break into his former family home to retrieve his iPad.

The incident resulted in his eldest child, 17, developing an eating disorder, missing college, and having to go to the doctors over her mental health.

At Warrington Magistrates Court on Wednesday (August 28), prosecutor Sarah McInerney read a statement on her behalf.

She said: “I am usually confident and positive thinking but since this incident feel really upset and unhappy.

“I thought he was going to hit us. We just don’t understand why he did this to us.

“I don’t recognise him anymore. I feel I would be too scared to be left alone with him.

“I hope he gets help and becomes a better man.”

Outside Warrington Magistrates Court on Wednesday (August 28) (Image: Newsquest)

On March 15, Phoenix’s youngest daughter took his iPad after visiting her grandparents, with whom her father was staying.

At around 5.15pm, Phoenix arrived at the family home in Northwich looking to retrieve his device.

Video footage played in court showed Phoenix repeatedly kicking the front door before getting a hammer from his van, which he used to hit the door handle.

Meanwhile, the two daughters could be heard crying, screaming and asking for help.

The girls’ mother described the incident as ‘an extreme act of violence and intimidation’ and said it caused the family ‘heartache, confusion and stress’.

Defending, Jeremy Spencer, explained the iPad contained the details of the couple’s ongoing divorce, as well as everything he needed for his work.

“He made every effort to contact them. They essentially rebuffed all those advances,” Mr Spencer said.

“He was left with no option but to go round.

“He had one aim, to retrieve the iPad. Nothing else.”

Mr Jeremy added that Phoenix couldn’t hear the girls inside due to the sealing on the property and thus didn’t realise ‘the extent of his actions’.

He also explained that Phoenix was an ‘integral part’ of a local rugby club, serving as coach of the women’s team which his eldest daughter played for, but has since been ‘barred’.

Mr Spencer added: “He has told me they (his daughters) are the most important thing in his life.

“He’s going to have to suffer emotionally.

“You won’t see him before this or any other court in the future.”

The magistrates handed Phoenix a two-year restraining order, banning him from visiting the family home and contacting his soon-to-be ex-wife, their children and another named individual, save for through the family court.

He was also given a 12-month community order, as part of which he must complete 280 hours of unpaid work.

Phoenix will also have to pay £85 in court costs and a £114 mandatory surcharge.