Sent to prison for sending threatening messages to woman

A MAN with previous convictions pleaded guilty to a charge of sending threatening messages to a woman and was given a 20-week custodial sentence.

Ryck Cowood, 30, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to sending a letter, communication or article conveying a threatening message to a woman.

The allegation states that on September 25 at Lincoln Street in Worksop, “telephone calls conveyed a threat for the purpose of causing distress or anxiety to the recipient or to any other person intended”.

Cowood originally entered a plea of not guilty before trial at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court yesterday but pleaded guilty just before the trial began.

Magistrates urged Cowood to continue to get help with drugs and alcohol when delivering sentence.

Cowood’s solicitor said: “He consumed a large quantity of drugs and alcohol, and accepts things have gone way, way too far – he was going through a divorce and was not in the usual state of mind. “There are no sentencing guidelines for this type of case.”

Magistrates asked if there were any programmes that could help Cowood with drugs and alcohol, but prosecution Mark Fielding said there “programmes in prison already”.

The chief magistrate added: “The sentence is a 20 weeks custodial sentence, eight of which have already been served in custody.

“We’ve taken into account offences on previous records, which is what goes against you.

“You also have a restraining order not to go to Lincoln Street in Worksop, and you will go back in prison to see out the remainder of your sentence if caught there.

“You will go through the system and carry on with drugs and alcohol help and live a normal life in a normal way.

“Good luck to you with future life and a career.”