A man who attempted to stab his ex with a steak knife went to her house in breach of a restraining order – barely a week after it was imposed.

Leslie Williams, 39, was caught by police hiding at his former partner’s Abingdon home on March 25 after he was reported missing from his bail hostel in Reading the night before.

Oxford magistrates heard the Williams had been made subject to a restraining order on March 17 after he was convicted of assault, criminal damage and possession of a knife. He had pushed the woman to the floor then attempted to stab her with a steak knife, the court was told.

Williams, who received a two year community order for the earlier attack, was reported missing from his bail hostel.

Police went to his former partner’s home in Bowyer Road, Abingdon. She initially told them that he was not there, but they spotted him hiding by the side of the house.

In a statement, she said that she’d been talking to her former partner on the phone. She was ‘not shocked’ when he knocked at her door but had not been expecting him.

“I didn’t want to get him in trouble and I was hoping I would be able to persuade him to do the right thing and go back to his approved premises,” she said. She would apply to have the restraining order varied in due course.

The court heard he had eight convictions for 10 offences, dating between 2017 and 2022.

Williams, of Southcote Road, Reading, pleaded guilty to breaching a restraining order.

Oxford Mail: File image of Oxford Magistrates' Court Picture: ED NIXFile image of Oxford Magistrates' Court Picture: ED NIX

Brid Eve, mitigating, said arrangements had been made for his property at the Abingdon house to be returned to him – but that hadn’t happened.

She said: “One reason for attending the property was to collect his belongings. He would disagree that they had been in regular contact.”

The advocate asked the magistrates to adjourn the case for the probation service to consider whether Williams could be allowed to continue on his community order.

Chairman of the bench Alan Dyer said: “We’re going to release you on bail. We’re not imposing any bail conditions because there is a very strict [restraining] order in place and you’ve found out what happens if you breach that. You won’t get bail a second time.”

He was bailed to return to Oxford Magistrates’ Court on April 14 for sentence.

Breach of a restraining order carries a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment. Penalties range from a fine to prison.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

For news updates straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on news@nqo.com or 01865 425 445.