Court order for man who ‘super-glued door lock’

Huntingdon Magistrates Court (Image: Archant)

A Huntingdon man who sent more than 80 harassing text messages to his former partner has been handed a community order.

Keith Phoenix, of Ermine Street, appeared at Huntingdon Magistrates’ Court, on January 3, facing a count of harassment following the breakdown of his relationship in December last year.

Graham Dalley, prosecuting, told the court that over a 24-hour-period Phoenix sent 84 messages demanding some of his belongings.

“The victim received a text message from the defendant asking if he could collect some belongings, she said ‘yes but you need to get another person to do so,’” Mr Dalley said.

The 58-year-old continued to messaging the victim “throughout the day and into the early hours” asking to collect his property.

“Only a couple of times did she [the victim] respond with ‘stop texting me’”, said Mr Dalley.

He added: “In interview the defendant admitted the amount of texts that he had sent to the victim was ‘over the top.’”

Phoenix also pleaded guilty to another count of criminal damage after super-gluing a lock on the house of his ex-partner’s son.

In a statement read to the court, Phoneix acknowledged that gluing the lock had been a “stupid thing to do”.

The 58-year-old, who was not represented, said he was “sorry for the inconvenience caused” when gluing the lock.

“I only went to his house to talk to him about my relationship with his mother,” Phoenix said.

Sentencing, magistrate Blyth Morris handed Phoenix a community order which requires him to attend regular appointments with a probation officer.

As a part of the sentencing, a restraining order was imposed on Phoenix which prevents him from contacting his former partner or visiting the street in which she lives.