Ex-boyfriend's phone threats

Businessman Brett Vincent Lill, 33, made messages threatening to kill both women, and then invited himself to a barbecue where they both were, said Martin Butterworth, prosecuting.

But his former girlfriend, Rebecca Carter, had fled on hearing that he planned to arrive. So Lill swore at her friend, Kirsty Thornton, and pushed her, giving her a small injury near her left eye.

His solicitor, Kevin Blount, said Lill believed Ms Thornton was poisoning Ms Carter against him, after she told Ms Carter that he had had an affair.

Lill, of Thurston House, Cherry Street, York, who runs a fencing business in York and who has previous convictions for violence, pleaded guilty to two charges of harassment and one of assault.

Mr Blount said the barbecue was a secret party for Ms Carter, who was going to Australia. The relationship had been on its last legs, but the antagonism in it had started when Ms Thornton revealed Lill's affair.

Mr Butterworth said that on May 16 Lill sent Ms Carter a text message including the words: "There is no worth in living. I told you this last week. I want to kill you."

On May 29, he made a phone call to Ms Thornton saying: "I am going to kill you, you bitch."

On May 29, the women were at the barbecue when Lill texted Ms Carter wanting to know where she was and saying he was on his way. Fearing for her safety, Ms Carter left, but Ms Thornton stayed.

Martin Sheen, the deputy district judge, said: "You quite clearly have a temper.

"When you go round making threats to people, it is not surprising they are frightened. Your history indicates that you have a temper and when it flares up, very serious consequences follow."

He banned Lill from having any contact with either woman indefinitely, and ordered Lill to do 12 months' community rehabilitation, 100 hours' community punishment and pay £100 compensation to each woman plus £50 costs.

Updated: 09:55 Friday, March 04, 2005