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Terrifying moment as crazed neighbor brandishes air rifle butt on grandmother’s house door and tells her ‘I’m coming in’ during months of harassment campaign
- Mark Townsend, 59, hit his neighbor’s house in Cardiff with an air rifle
- He yelled at her, “Don’t f****** come to the front door, I’m coming through”
- The woman, a grandmother, said the incident left her “terrified” and “petrified.”
- Townsend pleaded guilty to possession of a counterfeit firearm and harassment
- He was sentenced to 13 months in prison and a five-year restraining order
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Mark Townsend (pictured) tried to break into a neighbor’s house after becoming ‘obsessed’ with the woman who lived there
A gun-wielding man tried to break into his neighbor’s house after he… ‘obsessed’ with the woman who lives there.
Terrifying footage shows Mark Townsend, 59, slamming the butt of an air rifle against the door of the Cardiff house while yelling ‘I’m coming’.
Townsend, of Rumney, could be heard yelling, ‘Where have you been, are you okay now? Don’t fucking come to the front door, I’m coming through.’
His petrified victim, a grandmother, had endured weeks of harassment before Townsend armed himself with an air rifle in April and banged loudly on the door with it.
He has been charged with possession of an imitation firearm and intimidation with a view to causing serious harm and suffering.
He was sentenced to 13 months in prison and a restraining order against him coming within 100 meters of the victim for five years.
The couple lived side by side for eight years before Townsend developed an “obsession” with the grandmother, a court heard.
Prosecutor Roger Griffiths said that in one case, the woman woke up and Townsend knocked on her door in the early hours.
When she asked him what he was doing, he replied in a creepy voice, “You know what I want.”
Another time, Townsend knocked on her door at five in the morning, and when she told him to leave because she had to go to work, he replied, “I know what time you have to go to work.”
Cardiff Crown Court learned that after this incident – and weeks of harassment from Townsend – she installed a camera above the door that could be accessed on her phone.
A month later, she was back in bed when Townsend banged loudly on her door and called the police.
But despite the warning, Townsend armed himself with an air rifle on April 29 and banged on the door with it.
Mr Griffith said the woman “thought if he entered her house she would be shot”.
He said, “She said she was absolutely terrified. It is clear that in this case the victim has caused serious suffering.’
The footage shows Mark Townsend, 59, slamming the butt of the air rifle against the door of the Cardiff house while shouting: ‘I’m coming in’
On April 29, Townsend armed himself with an air rifle and banged loudly on the door. The weapon is pictured above
Townsend was heard shouting from Rumney, ‘Where have you been, are you well now? Don’t f****** come to the front door, I’ll come through’
Police were called and arrested Townsend with officers saying he was having a “mental episode” in his home.
In a statement to the court, the woman said: “I want this man permanently removed from the house next door.
“He makes my life hell and has some weird obsession with me.
“I’m worried about what he’s going to do now and I’m afraid I’ll be damaged soon.”
‘There have been so many incidents in recent years, I can’t stand it anymore.
“It has a negative effect on my mental health and I cried when the police showed up.
“I’m terrified that this man will be released and what he’s going to do to me. I can’t take it anymore and need help with this matter.”
Judge Catherine Richards said, “Bringing the gun to the crime scene can only be intended to maximize fear and distress.”