Man who threatened ex-partner and set fire to her home in Cumbria avoids jail
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A man who threatened to slit the throat of his ex-partner — and set fire to her Eden Valley home — has been given a suspended prison sentence by a district judge who concluded that he can be rehabilitated.
David McGurty, aged 37, left two former partners fearing the worst during drug-fuelled offending in late July and early August this year.
One woman reported to the police that her ex-partner, McGurty, had been constantly messaging and ringing her.
McGurty made a number of chilling threats. “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 today (27 August).
When brought to court, McGurty admitted harassing the woman, and making threats both of death or harm and damage.
In an impact statement, the woman 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 stated.
McGurty also pleaded guilty to a separate offence of criminal damage following an earlier incident at the Kirkby Stephen home of a different ex-partner, on 31st July. The court heard McGurty had thrown a rock at her door, damaging panelling.
Defence solicitor Liz Phizacklea, mitigating, said McGurty, of Bracken Ridge, Carlisle, had admitted his wrongdoing at the earliest opportunity. He had also co-operated with the preparation of a probation service pre-sentence report.
“The defendant does not seek in any way to minimise his actions and in fact takes full responsibility,” said Ms Phizacklea. “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.
District judge Philip Holden, in light of all submissions, suspended a 12-month prison sentence for a year. But 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).”
McGurty must complete 150 hours’ unpaid work and a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement. He must pay court costs and has been banned from contacting both women, in any way, for three years.