Baby death threat jury retires

The court heard of Evans's campaign of threats

The jury has retired to consider its verdict on a pensioner accused of making death threats against her neighbours' baby son.

Dorothy Evans, 75, of Park Crescent, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire is also accused of using a sweeping brush to attack a neighbour's car.

Evans was arrested after a long-running "war" against the Edwards family who live next to her at Park Crescent in Abergavenny.

This was abuse which was both frightening and intimidating

Prosecutor Huw Wallace

Cardiff Crown Court heard that Evans told father-to-be Julian Edwards: "The baby could be born dead yet."

It was also claimed that when the pensioner saw heavily pregnant Andrea Edwards outside her home she made a comment about the size of her rear end.

Huw Wallace, prosecuting, told the court: "Mr Edwards was driving home when he saw Evans sweeping the pavement with a brush," said Mr Wallace.

"He parked and she approached and stabbed her brush onto the side panel of the car."

Threat to kill

The jury heard that some months later Mr Edwards was putting out some rubbish and had closed the door behind him because the newborn baby was in the house.

Mr Wallace said: "Evans was leaning out of the window and said: 'Fancy leaving the baby on his own, I hope he dies of cot death'. "

The hearing was told how on another occasion, Mrs Edwards had arrived home and got out of her car when Evans told her: "I will get that baby. I will kill it".

Ms Evans is also accused of drawing her finger across her throat at Mr Edward's mother, Valerie Edwards, and at another neighbour, Margaret Jones.

After making these threats Evans, who is sprightly for her age, ran to her own home and barricaded herself in

Prosecutor Huw Wallace

Mr Wallace said: "This was abuse which was both frightening and intimidating.

"After making these threats Evans, who is sprightly for her age, ran to her own home and barricaded herself in.

He said a police officer had climbed through the window because Evans had barricaded the door with her three-piece suite.

Evans was fined a year ago for harassment and was under a restraining order.

Cardiff Crown Court was told Evans broke the order and continued to frighten and intimidate her neighbours.

She denies seven charges of breaching a restraining order.