He then turned up at the premises armed with a knife
A disgruntled worker angrily telephoned his boss, hurled nasty abuse and threatened to kill him before turning up at the site armed with a knife and making more chilling threats. Fired-up Lee Jowitt told the terrified employer: “You have been bullying my wife and spreading rumours. I am going to kill you. I am coming to kill you now.”
He had a simmering grudge against the company after he suffered a serious back injury in an accident, meaning that he could not work, Hull Crown Court heard. Jowitt, 43, of Hawthorne Drive, Holme-on-Spalding Moor, near Market Weighton, admitted making threats to kill the man and possessing a knife on June 23.
Natalie Dean, prosecuting, said that Jowitt had worked at a recycling centre in Holme-on-Spalding Moor but he was off work at the time of the incident after suffering a back injury in an accident at work. His wife had previously worked for the same company in an independent contractor capacity.
At 5.09pm, Jowitt telephoned his employer and was abusive and shouting and slurring his words. He said: “You are a c***. You have been bullying my wife and spreading rumours. I am going to kill you. I am coming to kill you now.”
Staff were sent to be ready to confront Jowitt if he turned up. He arrived at the company’s office armed with a knife. The police were alerted.
Jowitt could be heard on CCTV footage saying: “He’s bullying my wife. I’m going to kill him. I’ll slit the dog’s throat as well.” Another employee tried to get the knife off Jowitt and grabbed his wrist.
Jowitt threatened to stab that employee as well. “He was then calmed down by his ex-work colleague and restrained,” said Miss Dean.
“He left the company site.” Jowitt was arrested on June 29. During police interview, he made admissions. “There was some distress caused to the victim,” said Miss Dean.
“There was a risk of serious disorder. It was committed on a company site where others were.” The company boss later said that the whole incident had left him feeling “fearful” and “paranoid”.
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Jane Rapin, mitigating, said that Jowitt pleaded guilty at a hearing before Hull magistrates. “The defendant knows that he should not have committed these offences,” said Miss Rapin.
“He has shown genuine remorse and regret for his actions and for the impact, not just on the victim but all those who were witnesses. He deeply regrets his actions.”
Jowitt had no previous convictions. He suffered a serious permanent spine injury in an accident and he had not been able to return to the work he loved. The injury incident resulted in “acrimony” between him and his employer.
Jowitt had worked there for about 12 years and he enjoyed physical work. He had previously worked in farming. His wife’s contract work at the company had been terminated.
Judge John Thackray KC told Jowitt: “You felt that you and your partner had been badly treated by your employer. That may or may not be true but it in no way justifies your behaviour.
“You made a telephone call abusing your victim and making threats to kill. If that was not bad enough, you arrived at the premises armed with a knife, again making threats to kill. Thankfully, you were calmed down and you left the site.
“The incident must have been quite terrifying for those who were present. When people brandish knives, incidents escalate very quickly.
“These courts are well familiar with people brandishing knives and, before you know it, somebody has been stabbed and there is a fatality. If that had happened, you would be facing a sentence of life imprisonment with a minimum term of about 25 years.
“The incident has had a significant impact on your victim, who fears for the safety of himself and staff.”
Jowitt was given a 16-month suspended prison sentence, a six-month 9pm to 6am curfew and 12 days’ rehabilitation.