A man who sent racist messages to a friend of his former partner has had six weeks added to a prison sentence he is currently serving.
In December last year, 21-year-old Kian Rowe was handed a three-year jail term at Carlisle Crown Court for what a prosecutor called a sinister campaign of control over his ex-girlfriend.
Rowe’s offending included verbal abuse, assault, restricting contact with the victim’s family and friends, bombarding her with phone calls and offering people £400 to beat her up.
Rowe appeared at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court this morning when he admitted the racially aggravated harassment of a friend of his ex-partner.
This took the form of numerous threatening messages and phone voice notes which were sent between March 21 and May 31 last year.
“I am going to smash your face with a hammer,” Rowe had warned the man, while also adding: “I’m coming for you with cousins and dogs.”
In a statement, the victim had said: “I find this offensive and hurtful. I have had to deal with racism at school and throughout my life.”
The defence said in mitigation that Rowe suffered from numerous mental health issues; had not actually acted on threats to visit the man’s home; and denied that he was inherently racist.
Rowe, previously of Croft Close, Millom, was given a consecutive six-week prison sentence which must be served in addition to the existing three-year term.
District judge Philip Holden told Rowe: “I do not accept that your language was anything other than racist.
“You well knew that using that language was likely to have a profound effect and did have a profound impact.”
