Man pointed air rifle at care worker's face

A CARE worker feared for her life while visiting a vulnerable man who pointed an air rifle at her face and told her “I want you to feel as scared as I do”, a court has heard.

- PHILIP DEWEY Court correspondent

She said she thought the man was going to shoot her and thought of her children being told she had died.

Natasha Grimes and her colleague Maria Evans visited the home of Christopher Rees, 47, in Mountain Ash on June 18 last year to conduct a tenancy support visit on behalf of their employers Hafod. But Rees locked the door behind them and became agitated.

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court heard the women were taken to the living room by the defendant and they noticed a display of samurai swords, knives and two air rifles either side of the fireplace.

Ms Grimes became concerned for her safety and sat on the arm of a sofa near the exit.

Prosecutor Martha Smith-Higgins said Rees began complaining about a neighbour and problems he was having at his flat, saying he could “use a few shots and everyone would give him a quiet life”.

The defendant then asked the women to look to “see what his head was like” and Ms Grimes asked him to unlock the front door.