Man who threatened ex-partner spared jail

A man who threatened to slit the throat of his ex-partner and set fire to her home has been given a suspended prison sentence.

David McGurty, 37, of Bracken Ridge, Carlisle, left two former partners fearing the worst during drug-fuelled offending in late July and early August.

He made a number of chilling threats including that he would "ram a vehicle into her house, set fire to her address and use a knife to slit her throat", prosecutor George Shelley told Carlisle Magistrates' Court.

District judge Philip Holden suspended a 12-month prison sentence for a year and ordered McGurty to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

McGurty was also ordered to pay court costs and was banned from contacting both women, in any way, for three years.

One woman reported to the police that her ex-partner had been constantly messaging and ringing her.

When brought to court, McGurty admitted harassing the woman, and making death threats.

In an impact statement, she described feeling anxious and making constant checks that her home was secure.

"I do find myself thinking about what has happened and worry about whether there could be any future incidents," she said.

McGurty also pleaded guilty to a separate offence of criminal damage following an incident at the home of a different ex-partner on 31 July.

The court heard McGurty had thrown a rock at her door, damaging panelling.

Mitigating, Liz Phizacklea said McGurty had admitted his wrongdoing at the earliest opportunity and co-operated with the Probation Service.

"The defendant does not seek in any way to minimise his actions and in fact takes full responsibility," she said.

"He has expressed deep remorse for his actions throughout, both in my discussions with him and in the discussions he had with the Probation Service."

At the time McGurty was "heavily reliant on drugs" and described that he had "lost his head".

Since the incidents, while in custody, he had sought help in a bid to mend his ways, and was willing to comply with probation service assistance in the community, including regular drug testing.

The judge told McGurty: "Your behaviour over the course of late July and early August was utterly deplorable.

"Your behaviour has significantly affected both [women]."

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