A MAN who threatened to stab his stepbrother over a dispute over money has been told to do unpaid work.
Jamie Cornes, who only left prison in May, appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Monday (August 8) where he admitted an offence of sending by public communication network an offensive/indecent/obscene/menacing message.
Angela Hallan, prosecuting, said the 35-year-old had left a voicemail on the phone of his stepbrother, Robert Lewis - swearing at him and saying he would stab him.
The prosecutor said Cornes, of Belmont Road, Malvern, had left the voicemail and committed the offence between June 14 and June 18 this year - Cornes having only been released from prison four weeks earlier.
The prosecutor said: "Mr Lewis says it has got to the point, 'I have to wash my hands of him' (Cornes).
"Mr Lewis says 'he hasn't changed from when he was 16 years old - he hasn't grown up'."
The prosecutor added Cornes had an "extensive record" of previous convictions, including for violence.
Judith Kenney, defending, said the dispute started because Mr Lewis had mistakenly thought her client was stealing from his father, who he was living with, for drugs.
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Miss Kenney said Cornes had been provoked because Mr Lewis had ripped a landline phone out and locked his stepbrother out of the home.
Miss Kenney added there would be no objection to a restraining order as "he has no contact with his stepbrother."
Susan Mitchell, chairman of the magistrates bench, said they were giving Cornes a 12-month community order with the requirement he completes 40 hours of unpaid work.
The chairman said: "The key word is you would stab Robert Lewis - we agree threats were made. There was some provocation."
The chairman said they would not interfere with Cornes' post-sentence supervision, which continues to run until December.
Cornes was ordered to pay £135 costs and £95 victim surcharge, and given a one-year restraining order to not contact his stepbrother in any way.
We reported in October 2021 that Cornes sparked a police manhunt with the search involving police dogs, foot patrols and a helicopter.
After being caught he was jailed for assault by battery.
- A charge of harassment without violence, alleged to have taken place in Malvern between June 14 and June 18, was dismissed after the prosecution offered no evidence.
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