A MAN who sent intimidating text messages to a witness in a court case against him has escaped jail.
Michael Brown, 43, was charged with racially aggravated use of threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour after an incident of public disorder at Sainsbury’s, on Bankfields Road, Eston.
He knew a witness who worked at the store, and sent her a total of 32 messages in April this year, calling her a “grass” and threatening her, Teesside Crown Court was told.
Brown, of Barley Hill Close, Eston, had already been given a community order at Teesside Magistrates Court for the racially aggravated offence - and appeared at court to be sentenced for intimidation on Thursday, after Judge Michael Taylor had deferred sentencing in August.
Judge Taylor had told him on that occasion that he would either give him community work or “send him to prison”.
Mitigating for Brown, who had admitted intimidation, Zoe Passfield told the court that since the last hearing he had found work as a labourer.
He had also worked closely with the probation service to deal with his drinking.
And the court had received a note from his victim, which said she had known him for a few years and understood he had a problem with alcohol.
It read: “He’s not a bad lad. I don’t want him going to jail. He’s probably learned his lesson by now.”
Judge Taylor said: “Witness intimidation is a very serious matter, and this is something that crosses the custody threshold.
“However, the Magistrates Court, in their wisdom, have already sentenced you for the racially aggravated offence and sent you to Crown Court to be sentenced for intimidation.
“You could have gone to prison, but I have heard that you have now found work and that you are looking to deal with your drinking. In this case, I can suspend your sentence.”
He gave Brown a six month jail term, suspended for 12 months.
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