Port Talbot man jailed for threats to eat eyeballs

A man who dubbed himself “the hardest man in Port Talbot” has been jailed for three-and-a-half years after issuing a series of shocking threats and stalking a woman.

Swansea Crown Court heard how Clayton Jones, 41, formerly of Viscount Court, Neath Road, Briton Ferry, but now of no fixed abode, threatened to kill staff members at the Forge mental health centre in Port Talbot in January this year.

During a series of phone calls demanding money, Jones threatened to kill a member of staff and then himself, warning them to send armed police officers “or the SAS”. He issued particularly disturbing threats against a female staff member, saying he was going to get a blade and cut her eyeballs out and slit her jugular vein, adding “it would be worth doing a 12-year stretch for”.

The court heard Jones then turned his attention to Port Talbot Civic Centre, where he was a regular visitor “persistently” demanding money, food vouchers and mobile phones. He threatened to rip out a staff member’s eyeballs and “chew” them, then report back on how they tasted.

Jones went on to stalk a female member of staff from the Civic Centre, turning up at her home in the early hours of the morning, knocking on her door and speaking to her daughter. He was also seen sitting on the kerb outside her house and asking her whether she was single.

The defendant’s barrister, Jon Tarrant, told the court that Jones had been diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder and had spent many years engaging with mental health services but “appears to be outside the boundaries of treatment”. He said there had to be “concerns for the future” when the defendant was released back into the community.

Judge Paul Thomas KC said Jones had issued “threats to kill in the most lurid of terms” before going on to stalk a public servant, behaviour which had significantly impacted the woman’s life.

He told the defendant: “It is quite clear to me you have an uncontrollable temper, no doubt down to your emotionally unstable personality disorder.”

Jones pleaded guilty to making threats to kill, a public order offence and stalking. He has seven previous convictions for 11 offences including four batteries and public order matters.

He will serve up to half the sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.