AN ex-serviceman told his ex-girlfriend he would “kill, kill, kill” her and burn her house down after he saw she had posted a picture of herself on Facebook with a new man.
Matthew Brickley, 42, sent threatening texts and voicemails to his former partner in June last year following their break-up.
Llandrindod Wells Magistrates’ Court heard this week that Brickley had been “drinking very heavily” following the end of the relationship and was ashamed of his behaviour.
He entered a guilty plea to one charge of sending an electronic communication of an indecent or offensive nature at court on Wednesday, April 24.
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Brickley sent various voice notes and text messages to the victim, in Llandrindod, on June 18 last year, after he had seen a picture of her with her new partner on Facebook the previous day.
Prosecutor James Sprunks said the victim received the messages in the early hours of the morning.
“She received a message the next day from the defendant regarding it (the photo),” said Mr Sprunks.
“The defendant then moved the conversation to WhatsApp and became nasty. The messages came thick and fast, and he was shouting and screaming abuse.
“He told her ‘you’ve f****d with the wrong human’ and said she’d be sorry. He called her a rat and said he would be waiting for her at her place of work.
“He told her ‘I’ll go to prison for life for you’, ‘I’ll burn your house’, while in one voice message he said ‘I’ll kill, kill, kill, kill’.”
Police went to Brickley’s address on June 19 and arrested him. They seized two mobile phones and Brickley then gave a no comment interview.
Mr Sprunks said the defendant had some historic offences on his record, dating back to the early 2000s.
Pat Matthews, representing the ex-military serviceman, of Bridge Street, Brecon, said: “He stands before you very ashamed of what he’s done.
“The couple were in a 7-year relationship and he was obviously very upset when it broke down.
“He had been drinking very heavily. He has since referred himself to Kaleidoscope and other organisations.
“He volunteers with blind veterans and has taken steps to stop drinking, he is trying to help himself, and he has gone to therapy.
“I ask you to treat him as a person of good character as his previous offences are historic.”
Magistrates adjourned sentencing for an all options report to be prepared. Brickley will return to court to be sentenced on May 22.
His conditional bail was extended; Brickley is not to contact the victim, as well as other prosecution witnesses.
He is also not to enter the Wells Pharmacy in Brecon and cannot enter Llandrindod except to attend court or probation appointments.
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