DARLINGTON MAN JAILED FOR THREATENING TO BURN DOWN PARTNER'S HOUSE
A man named Ian Ward, aged 26, has been sentenced to a year in jail for threatening to burn down his partner's house with her inside.Ward, who has a history of violent and criminal behavior including 21 convictions for 34 previous offenses such as assault and carrying a knife in public, previously received a suspended prison sentence in August after assaulting a woman while holding a knife and punching her mother unconscious.
He later moved out of his partner’s home, and the relationship, which lasted three years, was kept apart after she sent him messages indicating she wanted to end the relationship and was tired of his behavior.
On September 22, Ward rang her and said he had wasted all his money on a roulette machine, which led to him threatening to set her house on fire in a telephone call.
He also cycled past her and mocked her by saying, 'Burn baby burn.' The victim stated that Ward was very controlling, instructing her on what clothes to wear, and that she feared for her family because he had previously used violence against her and her mother.
Prosecuted at Teesside Crown Court, the court heard that Ward's comments were made in the heat of the moment amidst an acrimonious relationship breakdown.
His barrister argued that the comments were out of character and in the context of the relationship ending, asserting that Ward was capable of leading a law-abiding life under the right circumstances.
However, the judge rejected the suggestion of another suspended sentence, citing Ward’s criminal record and prior opportunities to avoid jail.
The judge reactivated Ward’s previous suspended sentence but reduced its duration from a year to four months, adding an eight-month sentence for the new offence, resulting in a total of one year imprisonment.
Additionally, Ward was subjected to a restraining order preventing him from contacting or approaching the victim.
