A MAN who threatened to rip a woman's face off and have her home burned down has been handed a community order.

Steven Price, of Market Square in Flint, appeared at Mold Magistrates Court on Thursday.

The 47-year-old had been convicted after trial of sending an offensive or menacing message by a public communication network.

Rhian Jackson said the victim of the offence is Lisa Roberts, a friend of Price's ex-partner.

The defendant and victim had "not seen eye to eye" as she believed he didn't like her to socialise, the court heard.

On November 16 last year, roughly 12 months after the defendant's relationship with his ex ended, Price called her.

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She was with Ms Roberts, as both were isolating due to covid.

An argument took place between them and Ms Roberts said she would not put up with the comments towards her friend.

Price "snarled" at her and told her: "You won't be able to go home soon anyway, I'll get you removed from there."

He told the complainant he'd paid someone to burn her house down.

When she challenged the threat, telling him she had a child at the property, he said: "I don't give a s***. I'm coming round there now to rip your face off your f****** head. I'm going to kill you Lisa."

The call was ended and the police were called.

When officers spoke to the defendant, he made no comment.

Ceri Lewis, defending, said following his conviction her client had made "no assertions" against the victim and he hadn't tried to apportion blame to others.

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She added "all of his previous offending behaviour" had been alcohol related and that he'd had a period of abstinence, but had relapsed around the time of the offence.

"He does want to get help from probation," Ms Lewis added.

Major Michael James, chair of the magistrates, handed down a one year community order with 25 days of rehabilitation activity and a 90 day alcohol abstinence monitoring order.

The court also granted a two year restraining order prohibiting Price from approaching his ex-partner or Ms Roberts.

He was ordered to pay £320 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.

 

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