A man has been sentenced to jail and banned from a Welsh city after making threatening remarks towards a woman at a cathedral. Stephen Evans, aged 41, pleaded guilty to a series of offences committed in Bangor between March and September in court. The incidents included making derogatory religious remarks, gesturing a throat-slitting motion, and mentioning rape towards a woman at Bangor Cathedral. The judge at Mold Crown Court sentenced Evans to eight months and one week in prison and prohibited him from entering Bangor for five years. The court described his behaviour as “vile” and stated that the city’s residents “needed a break” from it.
Prosecutor Amy Edwards shared that Evans, from Abergele, visited the cathedral in March with a friend. He made the woman feel threatened with his presence and went on to mention rape, leaving her frightened. Evans subsequently suggested that the woman should take her life before departing the scene. On the same day, Evans also caused disruptions at a Burger King, JD Sports, and later returned to Bangor Cathedral where he behaved suspiciously towards a woman. In another encounter in September at Marks & Spencer, he caused concern among staff with intimidating behaviour and theft.
Evans, through his defence Richard Edwards, expressed remorse for his actions and attributed his behaviour to a difficult upbringing, mental health challenges, and alcohol use. Despite seeking funding for offshore windfarm employment tickets, Evans received multiple sentences for his offences, including public order offences, threatening behaviour, breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order, and missed court appearances. The court handed him a total of four months for threatening to rape a woman at the cathedral, two months for subsequent threatening behaviour, and additional sentences for other offences.
The incidents involving Evans caused distress and fear among the public in Bangor, leading to his sentencing and city-wide ban. The court emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of residents in the city. The case highlights the consequences of threatening and intimidating behaviour towards individuals in public spaces, reinforcing the need for respectful and lawful conduct in communities.