MAN WHO SAID HE’D PUT PETROL THROUGH EX’S LETTER BOX SENTENCED

A 29-year-old man from Newport who said to an ex-partner he’d ‘put petrol through her letter box’ has been handed a 24-month community order. Mark Barrett, 29, of Holyrood Street in Newport, pleaded guilty to harassment without violence when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court last week (Friday 10th November). Lauren Stone, prosecuting, told the court that on 18th October, at around 02:30, an ex-partner of Barrett received numerous phone calls from him. Barrett accused the woman of cheating saying that he would ‘f**k her up’ and that he would ‘get the boys from school’. The 29-year-old also threatened to set fire to her home saying ‘I’ll put petrol through your letter box’ claiming he knew that she kept a petrol can in her shed. In a Victim Personal Statement (VPS), read aloud in the court room, it was heard how the female was ‘petrified that he would turn up’ and that he would ‘try and burn my home’. Just 4 months ago, in July 2023, Barrett was handed a 12-month community order for a similar offence in which he subjected another ex-partner and her new boyfriend to threatening messages. Defending, Michael McGoldrick said that his client admitted that his actions were out of control and that he has been open about his mental health struggles and issues. Magistrates revoked Barrett’s current community order and resentenced him to a new 24-month order with a stipulation that he has to attend all 32 sessions of the Building Better Relationships programme. A 2-year restraining order was also imposed to limit contact between Barrett and the victim in this case. He was fined £300 and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a £114 surcharge fee.