A dad sent his former partner chilling messages threatening to "murder" her before sending a video of himself walking to her home.
Adam Moore and the mother of his child had split up earlier this year but had remained in contact for their daughter. However, one evening in June this year, the 32-year-old decided to send numerous "awful" texts to the terrified woman after she refused to lend him money, a court was told.
Those messages soon turned threatening and Moore texted "I will murder you" before filming himself as he walked to the victim's North Shields home and sending it to her. Moments later, he arrived at her front door and continued to be aggressive while banging on the door - all while his young daughter was also inside.
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The police were called and Moore, of Tyndal Gardens, Dunston, in Gateshead, was arrested. He has now narrowly avoided a stint behind bars after he pleaded guilty to a malicious communications offence and a public order offence.
Leslie Burgess, prosecuting at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court, said Moore and the victim had been together for 16 years but had broken up in April this year. The woman and their daughter had moved out of the family home and found a new address, which Moore continued to visit under the "pretence" of seeing his daughter.
Ms Burgess said: "He states he wants to see his daughter but asks for food and money. [The victim] has provided him with money in the past but she says it goes on food, cigarettes and cannabis. On the day of these offences, the messages the defendant sent were awful and very derogatory.
"He got in contact on the basis that he was asking for money. She stated that she only had £5 and, because of that, he began sending abusive and threatening messages. In one, he calls her a scumbag, another he says 'you're an awful s**t' and, in another, he calls her a 'c**t'."
However, the court heard, the messages soon became more chilling, with one stating "watch, things are going to change" and "You're not doing this again, I will murder you, I'm going round your house". The terrified victim then received a video message from Moore of him walking to her house - minutes before he arrived at her front door.
Moore continued to make threats and bang on the door until police arrived and he was arrested. In a statement, the victim said: "I fear physical violence from Adam when he is like this. I felt his threats in the past were often empty and just a way of getting to me for more money, however, I have seen a change in Adam's behaviour and I now fear he will follow through with his threats."
Stephen Moore, defending, said Moore was extremely remorseful and apologetic, upset about what he had done and accepted full responsibility. The solicitor added: "Mr Moore had stopped taking his antidepressant medication four days prior to this. He says the suicide of a close friend had also affected him at this time. He's got no excuse for his behaviour."
Giving him a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, District Judge Kate Meek said: "Your messages went from completely unpleasant to threatening. To back up these threats, you filmed yourself walking to her house and sent it to her, just in case it wasn't sinister enough that you had made the verbal threats."
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