Jarrow dad threatened to kill his ex-partner in a terrifying voicemail
A South Tyneside dad who threatened to kill his former partner by ‘slicing between her ribs and into her heart’ in a terrifying phone message has been jailed.
Mark Cooley, 39, of Derby Street, Jarrow, made the blade death threat while drunk and over concerns around his son’s safety and his contact with him, a court heard.
He phoned the woman on Saturday, February 28, warning in one voice recording, “I will find you and I will kill you one day.
“You are f**ked for this but not yet, babe. You are going to be living in fear like I did.”
And in another, he added: “I will f**king kill you for it, not today, not tomorrow, but one day a knife will slice straight between your ribs into your heart, that’s where I intend to put it.”
Prosecutor Jonathan Moore told South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court his victim did not hear the messages until she logged in three days later.
She immediately contacted police and Cooley, who was on bail in relation to alleged serious violence matters against her, was arrested.
In interview he admitted what he had done – but his solicitor told his court hearing he would never have carried out his threats.
District Judge Zoe Passfield jailed Cooley for four months, telling him he blamed everyone but himself for his problems around child contact.
She said his threat must have put his victim “beyond terrified”, adding: “This was thoroughly nasty behaviour.”
Mr Moore, who disclosed the messages to the court, said: “They had been in a relationship for about 10 years and have a six-year-old child.
“He was on police bail and one condition was not to contact the complainant, but she had kept open communication with the defendant for the child.
“On February 28, her phone was on ‘not disturb’ but there were six messages, mainly from the defendant.
“The matter was reported to the police, and they attended the defendant’s address, and he was arrested.
“In interview, he admitted sending the messages to the victim. There are no guidelines for this offence but the nearest is making threats to kill.”
Jobless shopfitter Cooley pleaded guilty to a single count of sending a message conveying a threat of death reckless as to whether a person thinks it would be carried out.
Amy Rochester, defending, said Cooley had left the messages while drunk and had no intention of carrying them out.
“She also said he had concerns for the safety of his child, due to a new relationship his former partner was in.
Mrs Rochester added: “There were other voice messages relating to his son being in danger. He is remorseful.
“On this day he was intoxicated and was dwelling on their situation. He absolutely did not intend the messages, there was no intention behind them.
“They are the ramblings of a man at the end of his tether. It’s the ramblings of a man who is devastated at how things have ended. He has not gone to see her.”
Cooley must pay his victim, who lives in Newcastle, £100 compensation.
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