Teen threatens to slit ex-girlfriend’s throat

Karl Day, of Brighton Road, appeared at North Somerset Courthouse in St Georges on December 16 charged with harassment with a fear of violence.

The 18-year-old, who pleaded guilty, made various threats to his ex-girlfriend of one year, Amy Walker, between November 1-7.

The court heard how the pair had split up while she was pregnant with his child and she had a new boyfriend, but Day was left frustrated after many failed attempts to see his son.

Prosecuting, Kelly Marshall, said: “Ms Walker said she had to move house as he would turn up at her house and threaten her.

“She said he would always withhold his number when he called and said he was going to burn her mum’s house down, harm her new boyfriend, and said that he had people watching her and if she didn’t do what he said he would burn her house down.

“She said the calls made her frightened and scared and she worries in case he finds out where she lives.”

Defending, Neil Scott, said Day acted out of frustration as Ms Walker had not let him see his one-year-old child.

Mr Scott said Day, who arranges to see his son through a social worker, had been let down on various occasions after turning up at a supervised meeting, only to be told that it had been cancelled.

He said after waiting a long time for a social worker to sort out the situation he resorted to trying to arrange it himself.

Mr Scott said: “The calls are out of frustration and are idle threats with no intent.

“The last time he saw his son was on August 10 and he feels that obstacles are put in his way after he has made a number of attempts.

“He accepts he made a number of calls as the frustration of not being able to see his son boiled over.”

As punishment magistrate, Venetia Kenney-Herbert, said she will look ‘carefully’ at giving Day a community work order due to the seriousness of the threats of violence.

The case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report and he will be sentenced in January.