Thug threatened to cut throats of probation team
MAN ALSO EXPOSED HIS BOTTOM TO JUDGE AS HE WAS JAILED
A VILE thug who made shocking threats to kill probation officers who were trying to help him pulled his trousers down and showed his backside to a judge after being jailed.
Stephen McEvoy made repeated threats to slit and slice the throats of people who were being appointed to assist him on his release from prison, including sexual comments about a female probation officer.
As McEvoy was being sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court via a videolink to prison, he was muted after interrupting and calling the prosecutor a “sick ************” for outlining his disgusting behaviour. Then, after being locked up, he stuck his fingers up at the judge before turning round and pulling his trousers down, exposing his bottom.
Lee Fish, prosecuting, said the offences he carried out were all threats made towards members of the probation service and were committed across three separate dates.
On September 14 2020, McEvoy spoke to his prison offender manager as arrangements were being made ahead of his release. He was told he would be placed in a hostel for the first few months, which is normal procedure, and was told who his community offender manager would be.
Mr Fish said: “The defendant became abusive and said he would slice the man’s throat if he was sent to an approved hostel. He said he would take him hostage and stab, slice and cut his throat. He said he didn’t care about the consequences of making such threats then left the interview room.”
By June 2, due to the threats made to the man, he was told a female probation officer had been appointed to take over his case. McEvoy was initially calm and polite until told he would be going to an approved hostel on his release.
Mr Fish said: “He again became irate and abusive and screamed he would slit her throat as well. He repeated the threat two or three times.”
Later that day, the prison offender manager called him back and said his female colleague wanted to speak directly to him about the arrangements for his release. He responded by saying: “Tell (her) to go **** herself... I will rip her head off.” He added further gross sexual remarks before adding: “I will slit her ******* throat”.
At that point in the case, McEvoy became abusive to Mr Fish, calling him a “sick ************ for saying stuff like that”, adding: “I wish I was completely deaf so I didn’t have to listen to sick ************* like him”.
Mr Fish resumed his outline of the facts, saying: “He continued to make threats, saying ‘Tell that stupid **** I’m not going to the approved premises. They can recall me back to prison but this time it will be for murder. You are not putting me anywhere where there are nonces, go **** yourself’.”
The female probation officer then tried to have a video call with him but had to end it because he pulled his trousers down and showed her his bare behind. McEvoy was released from prison on August 19 last year and was instructed to go to a bail hostel in Gateshead. Two members of staff were there to begin his induction and he was angry and unhappy to be there and made further threats to the female probation officer.
He said: “I said I would kill her and I would. I hope she dies of a disease. I hope she dies in a car accident.”
He then made further vile sexual remarks about her. He went on to say: “I said I would slit her throat and I will,” adding he was “not bothered if he got a life sentence”.
In a victim impact statement, the woman said: “When he made the initial threats towards me in discussion with the prison offender manager I was alarmed at how vitriolic and specific the threats were. I was particularly concerned when he made sexual threats.
“For the first time I feel vulnerable as a woman working in probation. When the threats were repeated on the day of his release I became more concerned about my safety. It was then the threats felt real.”
She added that for the first time she has felt anxious while working and while in quiet or unlit areas.
McEvoy, 51, of no fixed address, who has previous convictions for violence and harassment, pleaded guilty to five offences of making threats to kill and was jailed for 20 months.
Judge Tim Gittins told him: “Your reaction to being told you were going to be subject to a hostel placement was not only unacceptable but frightening in the graphic threats to kill those that might manage you.
“They were understandably concerned your threats were genuine.”
Joe Culley, defending, said McEvoy has a personality disorder and “has a number of demons”.