Hammer-threat ex husband jailed again for refusing to leave Leeds wife alone
A thug who was threatened his estranged wife with a hammer has been jailed again after refusing to leave her alone.
Kevin Gomersall has been jailed twice, but tried to resume contact again after his latest release from custody, even inquiring with their children over Facebook about who his ex was now seeing.
He was handed a new jail sentence at Leeds Crown Court after admitting breaching the restraining order put in place to stop him from making contact.
He has three previous convictions for eight offences, all related to his ex wife.
In an impact statement read out to the court, his former wife said: “I do not understand why he can’t leave me alone or get on with his life.
“It worries me that this is what it’s going to be like for the rest of my life, that I will have to look over my shoulder. He just does not seem to care.
“I do not want Kevin anywhere near me and I should not have to live like this.”
Gomerall, 43, was in a relationship with the woman for 20 years and they had five children together. It ended in 2023.
He was jailed in February of last year after he turned up at her home with a lump hammer and told her she was “going to die”. He was given a 20-month sentence and a 10-year restraining order.
But after his release, he continued to make contact and was jailed again.
Having been released from HMP Lincoln this summer, he began to contact his children on social media, asking details about their mother and her new partner, prosecutor Antonia Adie said.
If they tried to sever contact, he made threats to hurt of kill himself. He told one of his children they were a “disgrace” and said their mother can “go f*** herself”.
Gomersall, of Pinder Street, Farnley, was eventually reported to the police again and arrested on September 26.
Mitigating, Andrea Parnham said Gomersall was now intending to leave his children alone and sensibly resolve matters through the family court.
She said he found the breakdown of the relationship difficult and from his point of view, the end had been unexpected.
Ms Parnham added: “He tells me he has moved on and has no interest in the resurrection of the relationship. His only interest is contact with his children.”
But Judge Christopher Batty said that Gomersall continued to make contact, despite being repeatedly warned and jailed.
He pointed to a report into Gomersall that concluded he showed continued “anger and resentment” towards his former partner.
Judge Batty told him: “The only reason you are in custody is because of your behaviour. You were a perfectly law-abiding man. You can’t accept it’s through.
“People who just keep breaking court orders who persistently cause the level of distress you have caused to members of your family, have to expect a custodial sentence.”
He jailed him for another 18 months. A hearing will take place on January 15 to update and amend the existing restraining order.