He was told ‘he must not contact her by any means’ at court
A woman had to endure a barrage of “unpleasant and threatening” messages from her former partner after he jealously accused her of cheating on him. Michael Wood demanded to know where she was and he implied in some of the menacing messages that there could be consequences for her if she did not answer her phone to tell him what was going on, Hull Crown Court heard.
Wood, 47, admitted sending malicious communications to the woman and damaging a door at a property on February 23. Cathy Kioko-Gilligan, prosecuting, said that the couple had been in a relationship for about 27 years but, on February 13, the woman temporarily moved out to a bed-and-breakfast in Withernsea.
On February 23, Wood started sending text messages to her, wanting to know where she was. He was behaving in a jealous way and suggested that she had been unfaithful to him.
Wood implied that there would be consequences if the woman did not answer her phone. He later apologised and said that he still loved her. Wood later told her that he would be turning up at the property.
That evening, she returned to her accommodation with her daughter to discover that Wood was inside her room. The next day, the woman who owned it discovered that the door lock had been damaged.
The ex-partner received numerous text messages that day. Wood had convictions for 60 previous offences, including affray, dishonesty, possessing offensive weapons, drugs, driving matters and breaching court orders.
Holly Thompson, mitigating, said that father-of-four Wood and the woman had been together for 27 years but there was no suggestion that there has been any previous offences against her. “He has kept out of trouble,” said Miss Thompson. The damage to the door lock was caused impulsively rather than deliberately.
Judge John Thackray KC said that some of the messages sent by Wood were “quite unpleasant and threatening” in nature. “Such offending can have a profound effect upon victims,” said Judge Thackray.
“They worry that the threats are real and with intention. You should bear that in mind. It could have been charged as a threat to kill. You don’t have a bad record for violence, by any means.”
Wood, of Fairfield Grove, Leeds, was given a one-year community order, with 15 days’ rehabilitation and a probation service programme. He was given a five-year restraining order.
“If you breach the order, you can be brought back to court and you can then face a custodial sentence so just get the order done,” said Judge Thackray. “You mustn’t contact her by any means.”
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