Washington man avoids prison after “campaign of harassment” threatening to burn down ex-partner’s home and slit her throat
A man threatened to slit his ex-partner’s throat and burn down her house, a court heard.
Scott Seldon, 38, “embarked on a campaign of repeated harassment” against the woman after their 18 year relationship came to an end in January 2022.
Newcastle Crown Court heard this included verbal abuse, sending abusive text messages and aggressive voice notes.
Solden, of Muirfield Drive, Washington, threatened to burn the victim’s house down and “slit her throat”, the court was told. The woman was forced to move house and put a lock on her letterbox fearing what Solden would do, the court heard.
The court was told the woman believed Solden would act on the threats, adding: “I am terrified as to what he might do to me or my family or children next.”
In a victim impact statement read out in court, the woman said: “Over the years he has constantly threatened to kill me, burn my house down and threatened to kill members of my family.
“I have a normal loving family, but we are now living with cameras on our houses and locks on our letter boxes and we are living in constant fear every single day not knowing what he will do and when he will carry out his constant threats.”
The victim said she was nervous in her own home and when she carried out daily activities such as going to the shops. The court heard the woman moved house in an attempt to get away from the defendant but this was unsuccessful.
“Scott let me know this was not the case despite my best efforts. He proved this by getting his girlfriend to post a birthday card through my door to my son despite knowing he can not do this,” the court heard.
The statement added: “At my old address Scott had bail conditions not to enter my street, one day he was sat in his car at the end of the street held his had on the horn for about 10 seconds. Not breaching his conditions but letting me know he was there and instilling fear into my life.”
She added: “This had become a living nightmare come real and I just want a normal life for myself, my family and my children.”
The court heard there had been no further issues since his arrest. Solden pleaded guilty to putting a person at fear of violence through harassment between January and April 2022. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for 22 months.
