Man threatened to burn down his girlfriend's and her pal's homes

A boyfriend who threatened to burn down the homes of both his girlfriend and her friend has been fined and given a 12 month community order.
Chesterfield magistrates' court.Chesterfield magistrates' court.
Chesterfield magistrates' court.

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on Wednesday, July 6, how Andrew Stevens, 34, of Norbury Close, Chesterfield, had been upset that his girlfriend had been going out after college with her friend Eva Jackson instead of coming home when he threatened them both over the phone.

Prosecuting solicitor Sarah Haslam said: “Normally the defendant’s relationship with Leah Beck was good but it had gone downhill after he had been consuming alcohol and he had become horrible and aggressive towards her.

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“His sister had passed away and it had affected his behaviour.

“Leah had been going to Eva’s house after college but the defendant was phoning her and told her she was not going to her friend’s because he was going to take her out.

“He was constantly phoning and said he was going to burn down her house.

“Eva came over and put the phone on loud speaker and Eva tried to calm him down but he said he was going to burn her house down and break her jaw.”

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The court heard how Leah Beck later locked all her windows and doors and tried to phone Stevens to get her house key back but he refused to hand it over.

Stevens was arrested and accepted making the phone calls and explained that he had flipped because he had heard a comment about his sister.

He also told police that he had made comments about burning properties down but insisted he would not have carried these threats out.

Stevens pleaded guilty to making offensive phone calls after the incident on March 31.

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Magistrates accepted Stevens had difficulties and had shown remorse and that he had recognised the impact of his actions on the victims.

Stevens was sentenced to a 12 month community order with a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.

He was also fined £80 and ordered to pay a £60 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

Magistrates also imposed a 12 month restraining order on Stevens not to contact Eva Jackson.

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