Serial rapist in court for intimidating a witness
MAN PLAYED GO-BETWEEN ROLE AFTER VAN TERROR
SERIAL rapist Johnathan Hunt - otherwise known under alias Lynx Caan - has appeared in court again, but this time for intimidating a witness.
The 49-year-old, who was once sentenced to eight years in prison for rape, helped a friend in police custody deliver messages to his victim to persuade her to drop charges after a traumatic ordeal in April 2019.
The friend, Pete Stainton, drove his victim around Hull and East Yorkshire for four hours and threatened to crash his van into a wall and kill her.
“She was the girlfriend of Pete Stainton,” prosecuting barrister Glenn Parsons told Hull Crown Court.
“However, at the time in April 2019 the couple had fallen out over an issue about her having an affair while he was in prison.”
The couple reconciled their relationship after Stainton was released from prison in February 2019, but things exacerbated when he discovered she had taken intimate pictures of herself with another man during his time in custody.
On April 2, 2019, in a jealous rage, Stainton pulled up next to his girlfriend in his van and threatened to send the photos to her family if she didn’t get in.
What followed was a terrifying four-hour drive as far as Bridlington in which Stainton threatened to crash the vehicle into a wall.
At around 10pm he dropped her off in a street in Hull and was later arrested and charged with assault, kidnapping and threats to kill.
“When in custody he did attempt to speak to the victim and this is where Johnathan Hunt comes into the picture,” said Mr Parsons.
Hunt, of Beech Avenue, Garden Village in Hull, went to the victim’s home on April 3 to collect some items belonging to Stainton and told her he had a recorded message on Whatsapp from him.
“He was to tell her that Stainton did not want things to go as far as they had but what did she expect when he found out what had been going on,” said Mr Parsons.
“He told her to forgive him and said they could have a fresh start.”
A day later, Hunt called the victim to tell her that he had received another message from Stainton saying he wanted her to call of the police investigation “otherwise everyone will know about the photos”.
“The reality was that this had an effect on her and she did speak to the police about calling off the investigation,” said Mr Parsons.
“As a result, Hunt was arrested and interviewed and charged with witness intimidation.
“He denied he was part of intimidation although he accepted that he played and sent the messages to the victim.”
Stainton is currently serving a four year sentence in prison for threats to kill, common assault and witness intimidation in September 2019.
On Tuesday, almost 17 months since Stainton was imprisoned, his friend Hunt sat in the dock at Hull Crown Court for his part in the offence.
The court heard that the 49-yearold has 29 convictions for 89 offences, which includes an eightyear sentence for rape in 2000.
In March 2013, Hunt, who has aliases Lynx Caan and Peter Johnson, was jailed for 20 months for two counts of assault and threats to kill against a former girlfriend, a relationship which lasted just five weeks.
Four years later, he appeared in court again after threatening to throw acid onto an ex-partner and telling her”‘nobody will want you afterwards because you won’t have a face,” receiving a three-year prison sentence for that offence.
In regards to the offence in April 2019, mitigating barrister John Batchelor told the court that it was not Hunt’s intention to intimidate the witness.
“He never actually threatened the victim,” said Mr Batchelor. “She herself had mixed feelings about what his intentions were.”
Recorder Hill QC said that Hunt’s actions were a result of his “misguided loyalty” towards Stainton.
He said: “In the probation officers assessment of your offending he has come to the conclusion that your actions were underpinned by a combination of poor decision making, lack of consequential thinking, deteriorating mental health and possibly a misguided sense of loyalty to Stainton.
“Clearly, Stainton is trying to have her withdraw her complaint and you ended up playing a part in that by telling her about these conversations with him.”
With the exception of the offence committed in April 2019, Hunt has managed to stay out of trouble over the past four years.
It was heard that following two tragic bereavements Hunt has vowed to now live a crime free lifestyle.
“Anyone who commits the offence of intimidation can ordinarily expect to be sent to prison immediately,” said Recorder Hill QC.
“Firstly, the course of justice was not affected in the sense that Stainton was properly dealt with. Secondly, there was an apparent reluctance and your blameworthiness is in my judgement towards the lower end compared to many cases of this kind.
“Thirdly, you have made positive changes. Most importantly, you had the good sense to plead guilty.”
Hunt was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years.
MOTORISTS claim “lethal” potholes along a stretch of the A63 have become so dangerous they are a threat to life.
With weeks of bad weather such as frost and snow the A63 between North Cave and Hessle has been “churned up” creating large potholes on the stretch of road.
The deterioration of the road was raised on Hull Live’s Traffic and Travel Facebook with motorists saying it has got worse in the past few weeks.
Grahame Bullock, 63, who occasionally rides a motorcycle, is concerned that the road could be lethal for bikers.
“Having used that road most days in the past couple of weeks it has deteriorated fairly quickly,” said Mr Bullock.
“Some holes are significant and clearly dangerous. With snow covering it as well it is difficult to see them.
“I also ride a motorcycle and some of the potholes are potentially life-threatening.”
Other motorists agree that the road has become “really bad” lately and that it will be a problem for cars as well as bikers.
“I’ve noticed in the past few weeks the roads see to be getting worse again,” said one motorist.
Another said: “That stretch is really bad. I drive on it every day and they are getting more and more. It is dangerous for cars as well.”
One motorists added: “It’s like Swiss cheese, has been for ages. Needs sorting ASAP.”
Mr Bullock, of Gilberdyke, says it is “the worst” state he has seen the A63 in and has raised his concerns with Highways England who maintain the route.
“My daughter works at a nursery in Hessle and I took her there this morning because of the weather and the road is in a bit of a state.
“It has been a pretty rough road for a while but I would say the potholes have got significantly worse during this weather over the last few weeks.
“The last thing I want is to cause road closures, but the reality is they can’t stay like that.
“I have lived on and off in the area for years and that is the worst I have seen it.”
Highways England says that there is resurfacing works in the pipeline for the A63 at some stage.
A spokesperson said: “Safety is our top priority and all major routes on our network are inspected on a daily basis. If inspectors find there’s a defect that requires urgent attention we aim to repair it within 24 hours.
“Winter poses unique challenges with rainfall and freezing temperatures causing minor defects to deteriorate rapidly and previous repairs to fail. Every effort is made to meet these challenges.”