He shouted abuse at her as he drove past in his car, Hull Crown Court heard
A woman was left terrified after her ex-boyfriend threatened to kill her and later shouted nasty abuse at her while driving past her in his car. Luke James taunted her by telling her that he wished that she were dead – and she feared that he would “stop at nothing to get me” and would ruin her life, Hull Crown Court heard.
James, 32, of Wawne Road, Bransholme, Hull, but recently in custody on remand, admitted breaching a restraining order on July 3. He also admitted breaching a 12-week suspended prison sentence imposed at Hull Magistrates’ Court on June 2.
James O’Connor, prosecuting, said that James and the woman were in a relationship for about three years from 2021. Their relationship deteriorated and James sent her messages saying that he was going to kill her and that he wished that she were dead.
At a hearing on June 2, he was given a restraining order and the suspended sentence after admitting sending malicious communications threatening death. He breached the orders on July 3 by driving towards the woman in the opposite direction at about 8.40am before turning his car around and driving past her.
He shouted “Sl*g” at her – a breach of the order. He was arrested on August 25 but he denied the matter. The woman later said that she believed that James would “stop at nothing to get me” and he was threatening to kill her and ruining her life.
She had been left anxious and scared. “It was a deliberate breach,” said Mr O’Connor. James had convictions for 11 previous offences.
Rachel Scott, mitigating, said that the shouting in the street incident was very unpleasant but it was not something that was pre-planned. “He accepts that this was a loss of temper,” said Miss Scott.
“He has been very, very remorseful about this action. If he could turn the clock back, he would.” James had been in custody since August 26.
Recorder Robert Ward told James: “There is no excuse for breaching a court-imposed restraining order. She was understandably scared and there was the history that comes prior to it.
“There was a failure to comply. A sentence of imprisonment is inevitable because of the seriousness of the breach of the order.” James was jailed for 24 weeks and he was given a five-year restraining order.
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