"Boiled over": Ban for South Shields dad caught on Ring doorbell security threatening to burn ex's car
Dad caught on camera threatening to set fire to his ex’s car is banned from seeing the woman
A South Tyneside dad was caught out by a Ring doorbell recording when he turned up at his former partner’s home and threatened to torch her motor.
Liam Connolly, 26, was captured on the device saying, ‘I’ll smoke your car, your time’s coming. I tell you, your time’s coming’.
The recording was used in evidence against Connolly, of Orchid Gardens, near the Nook, South Shields, when he appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court.
Connolly committed the offence while subject to a three-month jail term, suspended for 12 months, for possession of a bladed article.
He has now been banned from contacting the woman under the terms of a restraining order after pleading guilty to a charge of making a threat to damage property.
Prosecutor Jeff Smith said: “Police were contacted by her and a third party in relation to a disturbance outside.
“He was outside and asking to come inside and he was shouting and swearing and he made a threat to set the victim’s car alight.
“Police checked a Ring doorbell, and he could be heard to say, ‘I’ll smoke your car, your time’s coming. I tell you, your time’s coming’.
“He made a significant statement to police, saying, ‘I went to that address. I need to sort out child contact’.”
David Forrester, defending, said Connolly had been living outside South Tyneside while previous court matters were being dealt with.
Mr Forrester added: “What happened was that his frustration boiled over and he went to the house.
“There’s a direct link between this and everything that happened before. He didn’t attend to shout abuse.
“He went and knocked on the door. He has not been in contact with the complainant since.”
On the threats charge, District Judge Zoe Passfield sentenced Connelly to a 12-month community order, with 15 rehabilitation days and a six-month mental health requirement.
For breaching the suspended sentence order, she extended it by two months, to end on Tuesday, June 9, and he must pay a £114 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.
The judge also imposed a 12-month restraining order, preventing Connolly from contacting the woman or his children with her, except via an approved third party for child contact.