SOUTH SHIELDS MAN SENTENCED FOR HARASSMENT AND THREATS TO WIFE
A mother believed her partner would "kill her" during a campaign of harassment and abusive messages.Brett McGill, aged 40, of South Shields, was given a suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of malicious communication and one count of harassment.
The court heard that McGill and the victim had been in a four-year relationship and shared children, but separated in 2022.
Despite the breakup, they occasionally communicated about their children.
In November 2023, following her instruction to cease contact and to communicate only through McGill’s mother, McGill became abusive.
Matthew Hopkins, the prosecutor, stated that on November 4, 2023, he left an abusive voicemail saying "you can go and die in a hole...I want to kill you you're evil.
I really f****** hate you." The victim stated she believed he would kill her.
McGill continued to send abusive voicemails and used unknown or family members' phones to contact her after being blocked.
It was revealed that he had 17 previous convictions for 27 offences and was serving a suspended prison sentence for assaulting an emergency worker at the time.
His defense argued that he had shown remorse and had suffered in the relationship.
The court sentenced him to 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, along with 100 hours of unpaid work, a 120-day alcohol monitoring program, and a £150 fine.
