A 57-year-old man who could be jailed after admitting sending malicious communications to a woman faces a wait to learn his fate.
Paul Martin, who posed for a picture outside court after an earlier hearing, was due to be sentenced at Worcester Magistrates Court on Monday, (July 11).
Martin, of Chedworth Drive, Worcester, had also faced a charge of harassment without violence against former partner Anita Newman, with that trial set to have taken place on Monday.
But at the start of the hearing Prosecutor Sarah Hurd asked magistrates for an adjournment as Ms Newman had not attended court as a witness.
Judith Kenney, defending, said she opposed the adjournment accusing Ms Newman of wasting the court’s time having previously not appeared in court after making other accusations.
After a short discussion Roger Warrington, chairman of the magistrates bench, announced they would not allow an adjournment.
Mrs Hurd then said the Crown would offer no evidence with that charge dismissed by magistrates.
The prosecutor said Martin had admitted another charge for magistrates to consider. In March the 57-year-old dad admitted sending, by public communication network, an offensive or indecent or obscene or menacing message to Ms Newman’s friend Nicole Weston.
Paul Martin told the victim he was going to kill her in malicious messages
Mrs Hurd said: “The messages were all sent on the same day.
“At 9.40pm Paul Martin phoned Anita. She was sleeping.
“Nicole answered –he called her a fat bitch and said I’m going to kill you.”
The prosecutor said in other phone calls he continued to be abusive, and made similar threats about wanting to kill her.
Mrs Hurd said Ms Weston had feared for her safety following the calls.
Mrs Kenney, defending Martin, asked the magistrates to put the offences in context.
“They (Martin and Anita Newman) met four years ago,” Mrs Kenney said.
“They are both alcoholics. On the day there is an exchange of unpleasant messages.”
The solicior said Martin had not targeted Ms Weston only using the menacing language after picking up her friend's phone.
Mrs Kenney said she was asking for probation to write a pre-sentence report, saying he was vulnerable and was not understanding he could be jailed for the offence.
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Asking Martin to stand, chairman of magistrates bench Roger Warrington told him they could not sentence without the report so they were adjourning the case.
“All options (including custody) will be available,” Mr Warrington added.
Martin was told to attend his sentencing at Worcester Magistrates Court on August 8.
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