Man jailed after threatening to kill and petrol bomb his ex's South Tyneside home in a chilling phone call

Stephen Brown was on remand at HMP Durham accused of offences in relation to his ex-partner when he made chilling warnings during phone calls with his brother last April.

Newcastle Crown Court heard during the conversations, which were recorded by the authorities, the 24-year-old threatened to target his ex and her mother and go "mental".

Brown said: "They are ****** when I get out though, I'm telling you now.

"I'm going to blow the house up, I swear down."

Brown said he planned to spend time with family and friends after his release from remand, then vowed: "I'm going to petrol bomb that house."

In a later call, Brown said: "I've got to get hold of her when I get out, that's what I am going to do, exactly that, I'm going to go ******* mental.

"They're dead."

Brown said he would be facing a life sentence as a result of his plans and added: "I hope the pigs are listening to this as well.

"She's dead, dead mate.

"As soon as I get out I'm going to kill her. That house is getting petrol bombed when I get out."

Brown, of no fixed address, confessed to police he wanted his brother to "pass on the message" so that the witnesses would be intimidated and the case against him would be dropped.

The court heard three months after he made the threats, Brown was sentenced to a total of 35 months behind bars after he admitted arson, malicious communication and damaging property.

The offences involved him smashing window's at his ex's South Tyneside home and setting fire to her mother's car.

He has now pleaded guilty to witness intimidation.

Judge Stephen Earl has now extended Brown's current prison sentence by a further four months.

The judge said: "I have to send the message out that this is unacceptable."

Shaun Routlege, defending, said Brown is "doing well" behind bars, has a job in the jail and is completely clear of drugs.