A gun-wielding stalker can be seen trying to batter down the front door of a woman’s house with the butt of a rifle in a terrifying video.
In the shocking security footage Mark Townsend, 59, can be seen hammering on the door of a woman he had become obsessed with, screaming that he was “coming in” through her front door.
His terrified victim, a grandmother who lived next door to Townsend in Cardiff, had endured weeks of torment after he developed an ‘obsession’ with her, a court was told.
The terrifying video shows Townsend striking the door with the rifle butt while shouting: “I’m coming in”.
Townsend, of Rumney, could be heard screaming: “Where have you gone, are you ok now? Don't f****** come to the front door, I am coming through”.
Townsend, who had lived next door to the woman for eight years, armed himself with the air rifle and used it to bang on her door last April after developing an obsession with her.
He has pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm and harassment with a view to causing serious harm and distress.
He was jailed for 13 months and handed a restraining order preventing him from going within 100 meters of the victim for five years.
Judge Catherine Richards said: "Taking the gun to the scene could only have been to intend and maximise fear and distress."
The woman decided to install a security camera above her front door following a campaign of harassment lasting weeks, Cardiff Crown Court heard.
In one instance the woman woke to find Townsend knocking on her door in the early hours, Prosecutor Roger Griffiths said.
When she asked him what he was doing he replied: "You know what I want".
In another incident Townsend knocked on her door at 5am and when she told him to leave because she had to go to work he told her: “I know what time you have to go to work”.
She called the police a month later when he began banging on her door loudly, again when she was in bed.
But despite the warning Townsend armed himself with an air rifle and used it to bang on the door loudly on April 29.
Police were called and this time arrested Townsend with officers saying he was suffering a 'mental episode' at his home.
In a statement to the court, the woman said: "I need this man removed from the house next door on a permanent basis.
"He is making my life hell and has some kind of weird obsession with me.
"I am worried about what he will do next and I am worried I will come to harm soon.'
"So many incidents have happened over the last few years, I cannot take it any more.
"It's having a detrimental effect on my mental health and I was tearful when the police turned up.
"I am petrified about this man being released from custody and about what he will do to me. I cannot cope anymore and need help with this matter."
