A DAD-of-five who admits sending malicious communications to a woman is still waiting 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, (August 8).
But the 57-year-old's sentence date was suspended a second time after magistrates heard Martin's pre-sentence report had still not been completed due to ill-health.
In March, Martin admitted sending, by public communication network, an offensive or indecent or obscene or menacing message to his former partner's friend Nicole Weston.
Angela Hallan, prosecuting, provided details of the offence to magistrates, which took place on January 16 this year.
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The prosecutor explained Martin phoned his ex, Anita Newman, but friend Ms Weston picked up the calls on her mobile.
The prosecutor said: "He said 'I'm going to kill you' (to the victim).
"There was substantial distress to Ms Weston in 12 calls.
"She believed, at that moment, he would act out those threats."
The prosecutor added that, in interview, Martin had said he would not carry out the threats and would apologise to both women if he saw them.
Judith Kenney, defending, said the relationship had been a toxic one, and that night the pair had been sending messages to each other.
"She (the victim) would have been well aware both abused each other verbally," Miss Kenney said.
"Notwithstanding that he accepts that is no excuse for his behaviour."
Miss Kenney said her client was an alcoholic and very vulnerable, and she would be writing to his GP because she believed Martin needs a carer adding "he is not safe on his own".
Magistrates indicate Paul Martin should not be jailed for menacing calls
Magistrates retired for 20 minutes and on their return announced they still could not proceed without the pre-sentence report.
But the chairman, Susan Mitchell, indicated to Martin that he should be punished with a community order for the offence, and not jail.
The chairman said: "We cannot ask the next bench to do that, but we will do our best to ask for that."
Martin, of Chedworth Drive, Worcester, was told they were adjourning his case for the report, warning he must attend sentencing on September 9.
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