Derbyshire man threatened love rival after his wife sent topless photo

Chesterfield Magistrates’ Court was told on Thursday, January 29, that Justin Riddell had become convinced that his wife of five years had been having an affair with the man - something he denies.

Prosecuting, Sarah Haslam said that Riddell had gone to the Hangar, in Nottingham Road, Somercotes, where the man works on October 17 last year.

She said: “The injured party was working and he heard a male voice behind him say, ‘I’m glad you’re here, will you come outside. He replied no, and that he had work to do, and the defendant had then said, ‘I have evidence of what you two have been doing on WhatsApp.

“The victim said he felt scared and felt like he needed to look over his shoulder following the incident.”

Riddell, 48, of Ball Hill, South Normanton, admitted threatening behaviour when he appeared before the court.

Mitigating, Asif Munir said Riddell was now living with his mother and accepts that the seven-year relationship is over.

He said: “In early October he discovered a text photograph of Mrs Riddell which had been sent to the complainant - it’s fairly explicit and showed the top part of her body. She denied having an affair but he moved out of the marital home. At the time, he was still hoping that there would be some sort of reconciliation, but he still felt aggrieved about the relationship.

“So he went to the workplace of the complainant who he thought was having an affair with his wife and said, ‘Keep away from my wife. I have evidence of what’s happening on WhatsApp’, because he thought the two of them were carrying on in an extra-marital relationship.”

“But as far as he is concerned the relationship is now over and he’s moved on.”

Riddell, formerly of Peasehill, Ripley, was fined £380 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £38 victim surcharge. Magistrates declined to award compensation to the victim of to issue a restraining order.