AN ELLESMERE Port man who sent a text message to his former partner saying ‘I will not stop until your life has fallen apart’ has pleaded guilty to harassment.
Christopher Hewitson, 22, of Stoke Gardens, yesterday admitted sending a series of threatening messages to Joanne McAllister-Smith, of Saltney, including one which happened while the victim was a witness in a separate court case.
Rob Youds, prosecuting at Chester and Ellesmere Port Magistrates Court, said Miss McAllister-Smith had been in a relationship with Hewitson before splitting up, shortly before he was jailed for 32 months for burglary in March 2010.
The couple maintained contact but the victim had a new boyfriend when Hewitson was released in May.
Mr Youds said: “Miss McAllister-Smith reported a number of threatening text messages to the police but decided not to make a formal complaint.”
Hewitson sent further threats, including a message claiming he would ‘go round to her house with Gypsies’, and warning her about what could happen if she pressed charges against his friend, who was at an ongoing court case.
Hewitson was arrested on August 22 and when interviewed by police, he denied all knowledge of sending the messages.
Defending, Peter Barnett said Hewitson was under the impression that when he had been released from prison earlier this year that McAllister-Smith had broken up with her new boyfriend.
He added some of the messages sent were not intended to be threatening, but he did accept sending some threats while drunk.
Hewitson was sent to Chester Crown Court for sentencing as magistrates felt their sentencing powers were insufficient.
