A dad-of-two ‘begged’ to be remanded in custody after threatening to shoot the boyfriend of his ex-partner.
Nathan Owen, of Borrowbeck Close, Platt Bridge, Wigan spoke with the mother of his children about access on July 11.
After being told that he could see them between 9am and 1pm, Owen threatened to kill himself.
The 29-year-old then sent the woman a picture of a gun with a silencer and told her that he would put “two between the eyes” of her boyfriend, prosecution barrister Eleanor Gleeson told the Nightingale court at the University of Bolton Stadium.
He also told the woman to make sure that the kids weren’t home.
In messages, Owen suggested that if it hadn’t been for the man, his relationship with his ex-partner could have been saved.
Owen found out that the man had called the police and handed himself in later that day.
In a prepared statement, he told police: “I’m struggling with my mental health and getting no support.
“I feel I’m a threat to myself and the public. I wish to be remanded.”
At the time of the offence, Owen was also on bail for an incident in March when he turned up at the house of his ex-partner’s brother with a lighter and a petrol can.
He set some grass on fire and shouted: “Watch this, I will burn your house down.”
It followed an argument over social media.
When police went to Owen’s home, they also found petrol canisters inside but he said these were for work.
Owen pleaded guilty to making threats to kill and making threats to damage or destroy property, in relation to the two offences.
Defending, Nicola Carroll described the incidents as “out of character”.
She added: “This is clearly a man with declining mental health, in the middle of a global pandemic, when access to services are very much curbed.
“The comments on his arrest and in his prepared statement speak volumes.
“He was a man in a very dark place, crying out for help, and he begged to go to custody.”
She said that in the two months since being remanded he has been put onto medication and is thinking more clearly.
He has also been promised his old job as a traffic management officer back, once released from custody.
The judge, Recorder Andrew Long, sentenced Owen to a 12-month community order.
He said: “This was certainly out of character for you.
“You have spent the last two months in custody which has no doubt been salutary for you and given you opportunity to engage with assistance in prison for your underlying addiction.
“You are in a far better place now than you were when you committed these offences.
“This is a great opportunity, I hope you take it Mr Owen.”
A restraining order was imposed on Owen, prohibiting him from visiting the victims for five years.
He will also have to complete 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
