A WHITCHURCH man who admitting assaulting and harassing a woman in Market Drayton has been spared jail with a suspended sentence.

Matthew Evans, 37, is currently living in chalets to the rear of the Raven Inn, on the A41 outside Whitchurch, following his release from prison in February this year.

He was sentenced at Telford Magistrates Court on Tuesday having pleaded guilty in May to three counts of harassing his victim by breaching a restraining order, harassing her by putting her in fear of violence, and two counts of assault by beating.

The offences were committed across three days – May 13, 14 and 15.

In court, the magistrates heard a victim impact statement from the day of the offences, which was read out.

It said: "I feel like this is never going to stop and he’s never going to go away.

"I thought I was safe.

"He needs serious mental health help as he’s not right in the head.

"I want him to leave me alone."

However, the victim attended court and asked for Evans to be spared jail in order to gain the support he needed.

Evans was sentenced to three months for three offences that occurred on May 13, 2022 – two harassment charges and one beating – with a consecutive sentence of six months for beating a breaching a restraining order on May 15.

He was sentenced to one month for a further restraining order breach on May 14 but will be served concurrently and the overall sentence was reduced to six months for his guilty plea.

Evans was also given a 12-month community order, 240 hours of unpaid work and 35 rehabilitation days.