A MAN has been handed a community order after telling his ex-partner he would stab her and burn her home down.
Ben Lister, of Llys Y Brenin in Holywell, appeared at Mold Magistrates Court on Thursday afternoon for sentence.
The 32-year-old had previously admitted sending an offensive or obscene message by means of a public communication network, which took place on October 24 last year at Holywell.
Prosecutor Rhian Jackson told the court that the victim in the case was Hannah Jones, who was previously in a four year relationship with Lister, and with whom he has two children.
They separated six or seven years ago, Ms Jackson explained, and police had been required to give him advice regarding his communications with her prior to the offence.
On October 24, the victim had received a message from Lister asking her to bring their children to his address.
She agreed to meet him half way due to the distance, but the defendant became abusive and upset at this.
His subsequent messages - which contained threats and foul, derogatory insults - constituted the charge.
They included: "I'll stab you and burn your house down - I will do it.
"I am going to make sure someone hurts you badly.
"You're all going to be sorry; I have nothing left to lose.
"I won't show any mercy."
The messages made Ms Jones concerned that the defendant would follow through with the threats, Ms Jackson said - which led her to report the matter to police.
In interview, Lister gave no comment but he entered a guilty plea when the matter came to court earlier this year and the sentencing was adjourned for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.
Mike Pugh, defending, said: "He entered his guilty plea at the earliest opportunity and falls to be sentenced for the messages he sent on one occasion.
"He doesn't seek to say they're anything but appalling in nature; he's mortified by what he sent.
"He did so in anger and upset and it's very much out of character for him."
Mr Pugh set out some of what he described as the "significant backdrop" in the case, in that his client had a broken ankle at the time of the offence.
As such, he was incapacitated at home and had asked the victim to bring their children all the way for that reason, as opposed to meeting him half way.
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"He was clearly deeply upset at the thought of not being able to see his children," he added.
"That led, wrongly, to his outburst. He deeply regrets his actions and wants to assure the court he didn't mean any of it."
The Magistrates issued a five-year restraining order for the victim's protection, as well as a 14-month community order with 25 rehabilitation activity days and 150 hours of unpaid work.
Lister must also pay £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.
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