A man named Gareth Davies, aged 37, was described as a "selfish bully" for demanding money from his mother to support his cocaine habit while being imprisoned at Altcourse Prison. Through a series of aggressive phone calls, he extracted over £4,000 within two months by threatening his mother.

Despite a restraining order meant to keep him away from his mother due to past harassment, Davies continued to pressurize her from prison in August last year, coaxing her to transfer money into third-party accounts. When a payment was delayed, he called his grandmother, warning that more money was needed due to the tardiness.

On September 27 at Liverpool Crown Court, Davies' mother narrated how her son persistently harassed his grandmother with daily calls, using her as a mediator when his mother began to ignore him. "I always feel if I do it this time, he will leave his nan alone," his mother explained.

She further recounted the intimidation she faced: "I'm scared not to follow his orders so I pay the money. It terrifies me to think what he would do to maintain control over me. When I first reported Gareth's behavior, our tyres were slashed, and our living room windows were smashed." These events, recounted by the Liverpool Echo, instilled a deep fear in her.

Davies' mother described more of her ordeal: "He told me it was my fault he was in prison and that he would cause problems upon release unless I sent him more money." On a separate occasion, she received another demand for money and threats that additional funds were necessary due to a delayed payment.

Despite informing HMP Altcourse staff to prevent contact, Davies found ways around it and continued harassment from HMP Berwyn with the help of a cellmate and friends outside the prison. "I feel obliged to comply with Gareth's demands. He gets very irate on the phone, warning 'you know what might happen’ if I don’t pay,” his mother revealed.

To exacerbate the situation, Davies once demanded £280 from her and warned that if she didn’t pay, he would give her address to someone else to collect the money. Adding to her distress, Davies also threatened that their family dog "could easily be poisoned" by someone flinging poison over the garden hedge.

Prosecutor Ian Hopkins described Davies' actions as borderline blackmail, highlighting that while the exact sum extorted remains uncertain, records showed significant payments made in July and August 2023.

Davies, residing on Catherine Street in Crewe, admitted to charges of breaching a restraining order and engaging in controlling and coercive conduct. His legal representative, Zahra Baqri, recounted Davies’ history, explaining his descent into drug addiction starting at age 16, leading to destructive behavior.

Sentencing Davies to 30 months in prison, Judge Martine Snowdon remarked: "Your offending is severe given the love and support you've had from your family. Your persistent exploitation and manipulative behavior have terrified your mother and left her financially drained to support your addiction."