A deeply unpleasant Merseyside man threatened to "blow the head off" a Job Centre worker.
Kyle Wright, 33, of Westminster Avenue, Netherton, admitted two offences of threatening to destroy property and another of sending a message of a grossly offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing character when he appeared at Liverpool Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, 21st November 2023.
For whatever reason Wright was remanded in custody until he was sentenced by the same court on Friday, 29th December 2023.
Threatening to destroy or damage property is an offence under section 2 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971. It has a maximum penalty of 26 weeks' custody on summary conviction; 10 years' custody on conviction on indictment.
Sending, by means of a public electronic communications network, a message that is of a grossly offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing character is an offence under section 127(1) of the Communications Act 2003. It has a maximum penalty of 26 weeks' custody and/or an unlimited fine on summary conviction.
Unemployed Wright clearly has an unhealthy obsession with the Job Centre, having already been banned from premises in Skelmersdale and Ormskirk.
The court heard that for the commission of these latest offences, the 33-year-old turned his attention to the Job Centre in Crosby.
On Wednesday, 13th September 2023, using his girlfriend's account but making no attempt to conceal his identity, Wright sent a message to Crosby Job Centre in which he threatened to "come down the jobby and smash the fuck out of the place."
A few days later Job Centre staff wrote to Wright to tell him that his behaviour was unacceptable. On Thursday, 21st September, Wright replied with his own letter saying: "It's Kyle Wright again. I'll be coming to the Job Centre and I'll smash it up. See you soon."
The Job Centre sent a further warning to Wright, telling him that the police had been notified of his correspondence.
Wright's girlfriend engaged in a telephone call with the Job Centre on Thursday, 16th November. During the call, Wright took hold of the phone and made abusive comments to the Job Centre worker on the other end. He added the chilling warning: "I'll bring my shotgun and blow your head off your shoulders."
Magistrates heard that Wright has 25 previous convictions stemming from a multitude of offences, mostly involving threatening behaviour and dishonesty.
Rebecca Templeman, mitigating, told the court that her client was unfit for work owing to a previous motorcycle accident.
Ms Templeman said that one of Wright's children was terminally ill. He had missed a Job Centre appointment due to visiting the child in hospital and was threatened with having his benefits sanctioned.
She said: "While his record isn't his best feature, he hasn't been in custody before. That five weeks has had the desired effect.
"Mr Wright is absolutely terrified at the prospect of going back there. He spent Christmas in custody, away from his child.
"Mr Wright is certainly somebody who has learned his lesson. He would ask that any sentence today is suspended."
Magistrates took the view that Wright's offences, when considered in the round, were so serious that only a custodial sentence was appropriate. However, given his family situation, they decided to suspend the custodial term.
Wright was sentenced to 12-weeks' custody suspended for 12 months.
He was ordered to pay £154 surcharge and £120 in compensation.
He was also made subject to a restraining order that prevents his from entering or having any contact with Crosby Job Centre (or rather, the staff working there) for a period of 2 years.
That could make signing on a bit more of a varied affair.
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