A man who stalked a woman and made threats that he would kill or maim her has been jailed.
Carlisle Crown Court heard how 52-year-old David Maxwell’s offending, around the turn of this year, arose from an unhealthy fixation he developed for the woman.
After initially making unwanted advances towards her in December last year, he stormed into the Workington cafe at which she worked on his birthday in February, going behind the counter and trying to grab her by the arm.
The woman backed away to prevent Maxwell reaching her but was said afterwards to have been in a state of upset and panic.
Police also learned Maxwell had been in contact with third party helplines.
During lengthy phone calls, he detailed his own persistent stalking of the woman. He made concerning threats to knock her out, do her over and, in one conversation, vowed to kill her or make her a cripple, claiming he had smashed in women’s faces before and gone to prison for it.
When Maxwell was arrested, police recovered from his living room a baseball bat — an item he had reference in one of the concerning calls.
Maxwell, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to stalking involving serious alarm or distress, common assault and also making threats to kill.
After hearing all submissions, including mitigation, Judge Nicholas Barker imposed a 12-month prison sentence. Maxwell was also banned, indefinitely, from having any contact with the woman.
