‘Jail term not excessive’
AN OBSESSIVE ex threatened to kill his former wife by hanging her out of a window.
Matthew Clive Pagett told support workers he “might as well” do it as he’d get her house after leaving prison.
The 42-year-old dad said he would “only get 13 years” for the killing when he spoke to support workers visiting his home, a court heard.
They took the threats seriously and called police, who arrested and charged Pagett.
He was convicted at Cardiff Crown Court of two counts of making death threats and was jailed for four years in May.
On Wednesday he appealed against the sentence but top judges in London said Pagett had a history of offences aimed towards his ex-wife.
He had breached restraining orders on many occasions, caused £4,500 worth of damage to her property, and been convicted of battery.
He was said to be “fixated” on the woman who was left in fear for her safety and that of the son she had with Pagett.
In his appeal Pagett, of High Street, Fleur-de-Lis, Blackwood, claimed the sentence was too tough because the threats were not made directly to his ex.
They were vague and there was no suggestion at all that he was actually planning anything, his lawyers claimed.
But appeal judge Mr Justice Jay said the four-year term was justified.
“We have no doubt but that this is a serious case of its kind,” he told the Court of Appeal.
“There had been a lengthy history of threats and criminal damage and breaches of restraining orders.
“He is clearly an obsessive personality with no shortage of resource and intelligence.
“The professionals took these threats seriously. They were uttered during a long conversation and were not on the spur of the moment or later recanted.
“This was a stern sentence but we are not persuaded that it was manifestly excessive.”
The appeal was dismissed and the sentence upheld.