'You're dead': Market Drayton man's call to ex-wife
A Market Drayton man who called his ex-wife to tell her "You're dead" had meant to say the relationship was dead, a court was told.
Marc Trevelyan Hodson, of School Lane, had been drinking when he made the call on November 6.
Hodson pleaded guilty to sending a malicious communication when he appeared at Telford Magistrates Court.
Charges of harassment that had been denied by the defendant were withdrawn by the prosecution.
Adam Warner, prosecuting, said the victim had been in a relationship with the defendant that had ended in 2010.
The court was told that the 46-year-old self-employed haulage contractor had spent £20,000 in subsequent legal battles following the break-up.
Mr Warner said: "On the day in question in the early minutes of November 6, she received a withheld call on her mobile. She heard a man's voice, that she was definitely sure was the defendant, say 'You're dead'".
The victim had also received a silent call on the house phone after she turned her mobile off.
Mr Warner said the victim no longer wanted any contact with the defendant and had moved to a new address that he did not know.
Hodson had previous convictions for public disorder offences and criminal damage, said the prosecutor.
He was fined £160 and ordered to pay costs of £150 and a £20 victim surcharge. He was also given a three-year restraining order not to contact the victim.
For Hodson, Mr Mike Surzyn said the defendant had spent £20,000 on legal fees following the end of the relationship.
"The evening the phone call was made Mr Hodson had had too much to drink," said Mr Surzyn.
"What he was trying to say was that the relationship was over, 'You're dead to me'," he added.
Mr Surzyn said that in a statement the victim had said that she did not think the threat was serious.
"Of course it would have been very unpleasant for her," he added.
"This was never intended as anything other than a misjudged communication," he said.
