No jail for new year text-threat man - court

3:20pm Tuesday 13th May 2008

A MAN kicked the back door of an ex-girlfriend's house in the early hours of New Year's Day after she did not pick up his phone calls, a court heard.

Matthew Hollis also sent text messages to another former partner of Holly Matley threatening to "kick his head in" and "tear his throat out".

The 24-year-old admitted a charge of causing criminal damage and a charge of sending telecommunications grossly obscene or menacing in character when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Monday.

The court heard how Hollis, a shop assistant at Aldi, had made his way into Worcester from his home in Pershore Road, Stoulton, near Pershore, on January 1 after he saw a missed phone call from his ex-girlfriend.

Lesley Ashton, prosecuting, said Holly Matley lived in a house shared by others, including Nichola Gilbert.

Mrs Ashton said Miss Gilbert was "absolutely terrified" as Hollis kicked at the back door about 4am causing £120 damage.

Mrs Ashton said Hollis kicked the door because Miss Matley had not answered his phone calls.

"He tried calling her three times and when he arrived at the address he tried calling her again but it was cut off," she said.

"Out of frustration he kicked the back door of the house and left."

Mrs Ashton said Hollis then sent a text message to Tom Barney - also a former boyfriend of Miss Matley - on Wednesday, January 9.

"Tom Barney sent a text message asking if she was all right and he got a message back, not from her but Hollis, saying he was going to get his head kicked in," said Mrs Ashton.

She said Hollis then sent Mr Barney a text on another day which said: "I have got your address, give me one reason not to come around and tear your throat out. If you go near her I will break you."

In mitigation Mark Turnbull said Hollis had recently broken up with Holly Matley and kicked the door in a short outburst of frustration.

Mr Turnbull said the text messages Hollis sent Mr Barney were a result of a developing conversation between the two and not random threats.

Magistrates sentenced Hollis to pay £120 compensation for the damaged door, fined £100 for the offensive text messages, and made to pay £60 court costs, and a £15 victim surcharge.

A suspended sentence he received for driving while disqualified in November 2006 was not activated but the order was extended from 18 months to 21 months.

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