A violent boyfriend was locked up for threatening to smear his ex-girlfriend's dad as a paedophile on social media.
Barry Purcell, 26, also said he would set the woman’s car on fire after previously being convicted for assaulting her.
Purcell, of Sandbrook Road, Ainsdale, admitted one count of conveying a threatening message at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court.
The court heard he had taken a “lethal combination” of alcohol while on medication for ADHD at the time.
Sophie Leyland, prosecuting, explained that the defendant and the victim, who the ECHO has chosen not to name, had been in a relationship and share three children.
In 2018 a restraining order preventing Purcell from approaching the woman was imposed after he was convicted for assaulting her.
Four weeks after the restraining order ended Purcell called the woman and to “ask if she knew someone’s address”.
However, Ms Leyland explained that “she knew he was angry” and he became “more aggressive”.
He told the woman: “Who do you think I am? Do you think I’m some kind of d***head?”
Ms Leyland explained that the victim then put the phone down but he “kept calling”.
In one call Purcell said he was “going to punch her”, “set fire to her car” as well as put photographs of her dad online and “tell everyone he was a paedophile”.
Purcell also threatened to come to the woman’s house and she could later “see him approaching”.
He then “knocked on the door a couple of times then ran from the address” Ms Leyland said.
Purcell has 17 previous convictions for 25 offences including an assault against the same woman.
Steve Charters, defending, said: “This is a strange set of circumstances, the defendant in the dock does suffer from ADHD.”
Mr Charters explained that Purcell receives medication for ADHD. He said a “lethal combination” of having drunk alcohol while on the medication and having been in a relationship “that was never really good for him” led to him making the phone calls.
Referring to a probation report, Mr Charters told the district judge that Purcell was expecting a face-to-face meeting with the probation officer.
He said: “He’s terrible on the phone and didn’t feel like he could open up. The author said it was very difficult to get any indication out of him.”
Mr Charters also emphasiaed the fact that due to the coronavirus pandemic prisoners are forced to spend 23 hours a day in their cells.
District Judge Paul Healey, sentencing, said: “Having regard to your role in the offence you made the phone call involved. It was serious threats of violence.
“The behaviour is compounded by the fact you attended the address - that shows an intention to really cause the victim to fear for herself.
“In 2018 you were passed a suspended sentence for assaulting the same complainant and there was a restraining order.
“The order expired shortly before this offence took place. I accept the victim would be fearful for her personal safety.”
The district judge said: “Your previous offending is a serious record.
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“I’ve got to consider whether the breach of bail would adequately protect the victim.
“I have little confidence you would work with the probation officer.”
Purcell was handed an eight-week prison sentence yesterday at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court.
He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £134 and a five-year restraining order preventing him from contacting the victim was imposed.
