A CROWN court judge has questioned why a man accused on intimidating a man he had previously attacked had simply been released pending further enquiries – only to do it again.

Judge Rhys Rowlands said that Joseph Garnett could have been charged and placed before the court.

He was not even bailed but released so that a postal requisition could be sent to him at a later date asking him to attend court.

However he went on to intimidate the victim again.

Judge Rowlands, sitting at Mold Crown Court, said that from where he was sitting it was very concerning and should not happen.

“It is just extraordinary,” he said.

He said he did not want to do a dis-service to the police but it was plainly wrong to just release him pending investigation as subsequent events showed.

Garnett, aged 26, of Maes y Dre in Denbigh, was jailed for a total of 21 months after he admitted the initial assault, intimidating the victim in an attempt to stop him giving evidence in court, and a later assault by punching him in the street.

Judge Rowlands said that that he had to sentence him for an assault and seeking to intimidate the victim after he had gone to the police.

In April of last year the defendant had followed the victim to his home in Love Lane and attacked him at the communal door to his flat.

He had been punched repeatedly and bitten to the forearm before others intervened.

It was, he said, a sustained attack and unpleasant injuries resulted.

The matter was investigated by the police, he was not charged until October, and he pleaded not guilty.

A trial was due in the magistrates’ court this month.

But the defendant took it upon himself to intimidate the witness not to give evidence.

He sought to interfere with the court process with a view to making sure he did not attend.

The defendant intimidated him both on January 9 and January 26.

On the first occasion he made threats about the complainant’s father’s house.

It was a matter of concern that while he sought the protection of the police straight away – which led to the defendant’s arrest the following day – he had simply been released under investigation.

He was back free in Denbigh and set about intimidating the victim again. While the victim was walking his dog he was again approached and was called a grass and repeatedly punched after he said he would attend court to give evidence.

Defending barrister Sarah Yates said that there was a background between the two men which she said led to the offences being committed.

He knew his behaviour was unacceptable and that it had to be custody.