Man’s arson threat after first booze in three years
AMAN threatened to burn down the home of his expartner after drinking for the first time in three-anda-half years, a court heard.
Andrew Clowes, 37 of Chadwick Terrace, Macclesfield, made the threat after finding out his expartner was having a night out in another town, Stockport Magistrates’ Court heard.
Prosecutor Rachel Harwood told the court that the incident happened at an address in Macclesfield on the evening of September 7 this year when Clowes sent a message to his ex-partner’s phone issuing the threat.
A probation report exploring his behaviour stated that Clowes told them he had been drinking Stella Artois beer from 1pm until 8pm that day as well as spirits.
The report said he was a recovering alcoholic and had not drunk for there and a half years prior to that day.
The court heard that Clowes suffered from heart issues and had a heart attack the weekend the offence was committed.
Defending Clowes, Lesley Herman said that although children were present at the address her client had communicated with his ex-partner outside the home and they would not of heard or seen anything concerning. He said the response to the message from the complainant had been ‘go home, you’re drunk’ which she said indicated the threat was not taken seriously.
Clowes had earlier pleaded guilty to sending a communication conveying a threatening message, causing distress or anxiety to the recipient.
The bench handed Clowes a 12-month community order with 15 days of rehabilitation, fined him £120 and ordered him to pay £175 in costs and surcharges.