Man’s threats to ex in bid to halt charges

A 24-year-old man threatened his ex-girlfriend in an effort to force her to drop assault charges against him, a court heard.

Alex Matthewson contacted his ex-partner in Uttoxeter over a three-day period, threatening her and telling her he would report her to social services.

Matthewson appeared at Cannock Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, August 25, from HMP Stoke Heath. He pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and breaching a restraining order.

The court heard that between January 2 and 5, knowing the victim was a witness he contacted her by phone and uttered a threat with an intent to intimidate her, perverting the course of justice

He also breached a restraining order by contacting her.

The court heard the pair had been in a relationship which came to an end, and then on October 11, 2019 she took out a retraining order against the defendant, preventing him from contacting her, which was due to last until October 10, 2021

However, he was later arrested for breaching the restraining order and assaulting her occasioning actual bodily harm.

While in prison, he contacted her asking her to drop the charges and threatening to report her to social services.

Matthewson was remanded into custody following the breach and assault and was later sentenced to 15 months in prison.

He is now due to appear at Stafford Crown Court on a date to be fixed to be sentenced for the latest offences and is remanded into custody as he is a serving prisoner.