Man told his ex-partner: I’ll kill you, I’m going to jump all over your face

Abusive: Tony McRandle yesterday A CO Antrim man used his mother’s phone to threaten to kill his former partner and warn he was going to “jump all over your face” after she blocked his number, a court heard yesterday.

Tony McRandle (19), of Kent Avenue in Larne, appeared at Ballymena Magistrates Court for sentencing on charges of harassing his ex and making a threat to kill her.

A prosecutor said that on August 21 this year, the woman received messages from the phone of McRandle’s mother which were abusive and threatening violence towards her.

The prosecutor said it was established the defendant was using the phone and at one stage he sent a message saying: “I’m going to f ***ing kill you, you are dead.

“I’m going to jump all over your face.”

There were also 36 unanswered phone calls, the court was told.

The prosecutor said McRandle had used his mother’s phone to “circumvent” a block which had been put on his number by his ex. The defendant had previous convictions regarding his partner.

McRandle’s defence solicitor John Murphy said his client suffered from depression and the incident happened very close to his birthday.

District Judge Peter King said the defendant came before the court with eight previous convictions.

The defendant had previously been handed a three-month jail term, suspended for a year.

This was for breaching a Probation Order.

A little less than a month after that, McRandle committed the new offences.

But the judge said the suspended sentence, while relevant, was for a probation breach and he was not going to activate it.

Instead, as “a direct alternative to custody”, the district judge said McRandle would have to carry out 175 hours of unpaid work.

He added that if that work was not carried out, the defendant would face going to jail for six months.

A three-year Restraining Order was also imposed on McRandle.