No jail time for threat to burn home

Andrew James Wells threatens man who texted his then ex-girlfriend

A P.E.I. man who threatened to burn someone’s home down because the other man was texting his then ex-girlfriend was fined $500 last week.

Andrew James Wells, 34, appeared before Judge John Douglas in provincial court in Charlottetown on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to uttering a threat.

The victim told police Wells threatened to burn the victim’s home down while he and his cats were in it. Crown attorney Jeff MacDonald said Wells told police the victim deserved the threat.

Wells gave a statement to the police, telling them he took a friend’s phone to send a text to the victim threatening to burn his home down if the man didn’t stop texting Wells’ then ex-girlfriend.

Wells told the court he and the woman had an on-again, offagain relationship.

“We were on a break,” he said. As Orr questioned Wells on why he would involve himself since he and the woman weren’t together at the time, Wells responded that they had been seeing each other off and on for three years.

“I don’t expect you to understand,” he said.

Wells told the court he asked the victim to back off, but he didn’t.

“Everybody makes mistakes. I made a mistake.”

The couple has since gotten back together and the two are getting married next year, Wells said. Orr told Wells it was important for him to understand that people have a right to decide who they talk to.

“They’re adults. They can do what they want,” she said.

Along with the fine, Wells will be on probation for one year, during which time he is banned from contacting the victim.

Wells must also pay a $150 victim surcharge.