FOLLOWING the collapse of his marriage William McDermott sent a string of abusive text messages and a highly abusive e-mail to his former wife, leaving her fearing for her life.
The long distance lorry driver promised to dedicate his life to destroying Sarah MacLeod's family, Worcester Magistrates heard yesterday. The 50-year-old, formerly of Worcester, admitted harassment.
District Judge Bruce Morgan described the e-mail, sent in March 2007, as "one of the most disgusting, sickening documents that I have ever seen".
The court heard Miss MacLeod met McDermott in 1997 and married in 2002. In March 2003 the relationship broke down and divorce proceedings began.
Lesley Ashton, prosecuting, revealed that prior to the spilt McDermott had confided in Miss MacLeod that he had murdered his 10-year-old brother.
Through a statement read to the court Miss MacLeod said: "Prior to us splitting up was the 30th anniversary of his brother's death. He had been murdered in Belfast when he was 10.
"The police re-opened the case in 2003. Mr McDermott was panicking that the case was being reopened, while the rest of the family were pleased. Mr McDermott then confided in me that he had murdered his brother. I then told the police."
After the divorce was finalised Miss MacLeod began receiving text messages from McDermott.
The first, sent two days after he was ordered to pay his ex-wife £19,000, read: "You will forever be looking over your shoulder".
In the second he said: "Till death do us part. I wonder who will die first". In a "highly offensive" e-mail McDermott told his former partner he had contracted Hepatitis from her and would "dedicate the rest of his life ruining hers".
"The effect that these message have had is great," said Miss Ashton.
"In her victim impact statement she says, I want to make people understand that Mr McDermott is trying to destroy our family'."
Miss Ashton said Miss McLeod and her children lived in constant fear and have turned their home into a fortress.
"Miss MacLeod's youngest daughter has left the family home because she is so concerned for safety," added Miss Ashton.
During police interview McDermott admitted sending texts and the e-mail. He told officers he was not thinking clearly and wanted Miss MacLeod to "experience some of the pain that he had been going through".
Andrew Childs, defending, told the court McDermott suffered from depression, deepened by the divorce.
"He had quite a lot of emotional baggage of his own," said Mr Childs.
The court heard the result of the divorce hearing left McDermott feeling aggrieved.
"It was against that background that he went beyond what he should have and sent those messages," said Mr Childs.
The last text message was sent more than eight months ago. There has been no contact since and McDermott, who now lives with a new partner in Liverpool, has not lived in Worcestershire for several years.
"There's no mental illness as such," said Mr Childs, "but evidence of a man quite damaged by events in his youth. He now wishes to move on with his life and put this whole sorry episode behind him."
Sentencing McDermott to four months in jail, District Judge Morgan highlighted 17 previous convictions for offences including GBH, ABH, common assault and battery. McDermott was also made subject to an indefinite restraining order.
"It seems to me that when things do not go to way the defendant wants he resorts to violence, harassment and threats," he said.
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