A prisoner issued vile threats to kill, rape and mutilate in phone calls from behind bars.
Christopher Wardle became fixated that his partner was having an affair with her ex while he was locked up. During a series of calls to the woman, he made disgraceful threats.
Sam Faulks, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "At the time the defendant was in prison. Threats to kill and rape were made and threats to mutilate against her and others.
Read more: South Shields gunman shot two youths playing football outside his home with air rifle
"He mentioned the children with whom he is concerned will not have a grandmother, uncle or aunt and threatened to blow up cars of third parties.
"He had a relationship with her for 18 months and they had a child born while he was in prison. He became increasingly fixated at her having an affair with the father of her eldest children. It's about his family those threats are made."
The court heard Wardle has a history of violent offences, including GBH with intent in 2017 and assault. He also has a history of using and threatening to use ammonia and during the phone calls in the latest offending he made threats to "swill him".
Wardle, 32, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to sending malicious communications and was jailed for 14 months. Judge Christopher Prince said he had repeatedly invited the prosecution to consider more serious charges but they have chosen not to do so, meaning he was limited to a maximum sentence of two years, minus credit for him pleading guilty.
He added: "While you were in prison in November 2021 you made a number of threats to her. You included within those threats threats to other people. These were particularly unpleasant and distressing and detailed threats that you were recorded making during a series of telephone calls to her.
"While in custody your behaviour has continued to be volatile and aggressive. You have threatened other people including prisoners and members of staff.
"You pose a high risk of serious harm to the public. You are likely to pose a risk to people you are in conflict with. You pose a significant risk of causing harm to members of the public."
Rachel Hedworth, defending, said: "It's deeply unpleasant, the content of a number of those calls, in the context of a relationship between two people who are offensive to one another.
"It became clear she is not supportive of the prosecution and she has written a letter to him in prison. He had an unpleasant childhood."
Read next:
- Washington woman caught dealing cannabis three times after using it for pain relief jailed
- Wallsend danger driver jailed for lying to police that car had been stolen in burglary
- Gateshead pervert jailed after breaching restrictions by chatting to sex offender friend
- Lemington menace threatened to send sexual image of ex to her family during 'vicious' harassment
- Gateshead burglar took advantage of open door during heatwave to steal from woman's home
