A man who called his ex-partner and threatened to stab her male friend has been jailed.
Carl Michael Porter, 34, had been in a long-term relationship with woman. But when that came to an end and she had a new partner it caused tension between the pair.
At around 7pm on February 19, the pair were involved in a row in the street after encountering each other at a local takeaway. As police arrived, Porter left the scene.
But while the woman was still talking with officers Porter made a phone call in which he abused and threatened her, saying “see what happens tonight”, and also “goodbye you horrible rat”.
“That was heard by an officer and recorded on bodycam footage,” prosecutor Tim Evans told Carlisle Crown Court.
Porter was arrested and bailed on condition that he did not contact the woman. But on the afternoon of March 29 he entered her home, ripped up three £40 T-shirts belonging to a male friend, was verbally abusive and initially refused to leave the property.
He did so after he woman called 999. But then came another abusive phone call which was also recorded. In that Porter vowed to come through the back door with a metal pole, smash windows and with reference to the other man said he would stab and kill him — you know what I’m capable of, and stand toe to toe with him.
Porter, was arrested and later admitted two counts of sending a malicious communication and one offence of criminal damage.
He had faced more serious allegations, the court heard, but the woman had withdrawn her support for a complaint made and conceded in a retraction statement she had over-exaggerated at times.
Peter Wilson, defending, said Porter had spent around six weeks in custody on remand during April and May, and had served the sentence he was about to formally receive. “He is a roofer,” said Mr Wilson, “and would lose his job if any (immediate) custodial sentence is to come of this.”
Recorder Tony Hawks imposed a 12-week jail sentence for the two malicious communication crimes, ruling that there should be no separate penalty for the damage. Porter must pay a £250 court cost contribution.
