Man in threat to kill Jonty spared prison

Christian Bond was drunk when he yelled abuse at the Smith family, swore at them and threatened to “smash-up” Jonty’s wheelchair.

Worcester Magistrates Court was told Bond was outside Jane and Ian Smith’s home.

Their son Jonty has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and left hemiplegia – meaning the limbs of his left side are severely weakened.

The family recently raised £8,858 through a public campaign to buy Jonty a new wheelchair.

Liam Finch, prosecuting, said while Bond was in a drunken state, he had shouted up at the family home: “I am going to kill you and your son. You don’t need a wheelchair. If I see him in a wheelchair I will rip him out and kill him and smash up the wheelchair.”

In a victim’s statement, Mr Smith told police being drunk was not an excuse. He said Bond’s remarks had turned him ‘cold’ and made his wife cry.

When arrested, Bond told police he was “extremely remorseful” and claimed his behaviour was “totally out of order and disgusting”. Bond, aged 31 of Cornmore, Pershore, admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to Ian Smith in October this year.

Barry Newton, in mitigation, said Bond was a recovered heroin addict and did not work, but had been very ashamed of what he had said and had not meant it.

“He knows his own behaviour to be out of order and disgusting,” he said. “The remorse was instant and genuine.”

Mr Newton said Bond had been upset over the poor health of his mother who had her legs amputated.

He said Bond was normally a quiet man, but his behaviour had been fuelled by alcohol. Although he was trying to overcome this addiction, and he had not had alcohol for three weeks.

Chairman of the magistrates Ross Garratt gave Bond a four-month prison sentence, suspended for 24 months.

Bond must also attend an anger management programme and was given a two-year supervision requirement.

He was also ordered to pay £50 in compensation and £85 in costs.