A MAN who threatened an off-duty policewoman and her husband after they had given evidence against his girlfriend at the magistrates court in Leamington has been jailed.
Craig Harvey had verbally abused the officer, before waiting outside the court building where he then threatened to ‘terrorise’ her, her husband and a third witness.
And at Warwick Crown Court, which is on the floor above the magistrates court at the Justice Centre in Leamington, he pleaded guilty to three charges of threatening to take revenge.
The 29 year-old of Edward Street, Hinckley, who had a number of previous convictions, mainly for dishonesty, was jailed for eight months.
Prosecutor Sarah Allen said in May last year an off-duty policewoman, her husband and another woman, had to attend the magistrates court to give evidence in a case against Harvey’s partner.
After giving evidence, they remained in court until the conclusion of the trial, in which Harvey’s partner was convicted.
Having been fined for the offence, she left court and told Harvey, who had remained in the waiting area with at least one of their young children, what had happened.
That annoyed him, and from the open door of the public gallery he could be heard shouting towards the officer.
Security staff were called and he was told to leave the building, but continued shouting and had to be removed.
It was suggested to the three witnesses they remain in the courtroom for a while until Harvey had left.
But he was still there when they left about 20 minutes later, and ran up to them with his hood up, shouting and swearing at them.
Harvey then took his hood down and threatened: “I know you. I’ll have you in time. I’m going to terrorise you. I can have you any time.”
When he was arrested in June, Harvey accepted running up to them outside the building, but claimed all he said was that they had been ‘out of order,’ added Miss Allen.
Simon Hunka, defending, said: “This all happens within the same period of time while his temper is still up. Everything he did was in the heat of the moment, and he had no intention of carrying out the threats.”
Jailing Harvey, Recorder Anthony Potter told him: “You attended Leamington magistrates court to support your partner.
“I quite accept you feel a degree of loyalty towards her because you credit her for you turning your life around.
“But what was in no sense laudable was your reaction to her conviction.”
