A man repeatedly made bomb threats to a journalist after he refused to remove a court story about his brother’s conviction – for assaulting a pregnant woman.
Nathan Miller, 31, pleaded guilty to an offence under the Malicious Communications Act when he appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court today (Wednesday).
Kate Prince, prosecuting, said the defendant had phoned Wiltshire 999s founder Daniel Jae Webb and asked him to remove a story about his brother Paul Miller – who pinned his then-girlfriend, who was pregnant, down by her throat when she refused to cuddle him.
Just over two minutes into the phone call, he became aggressive and threatening towards the journalist. He initially said he was going to end his own life if it was not taken down.
On hearing the suicide threat, Daniel immediately signposted Miller to the mental health crisis team and suggested he called the Samaritans for help and support.
Unimpressed – the defendant went on to shout: “Do you want me to come down there and blow up your shop? Because that’s what I’ll f**king do, I’ll blow the f**king place up, get that removed.”
Continuing the phone call, Daniel repeatedly advised him to seek help for his suicidal feelings and advised him to stop making threats. However, the words fell on deaf ears.
Miller proceeded to add: “Take the f**king post down or I’ll come down, blow up the shop, I’ll take my own f**king life.
“Get the f**king post down. I’m telling you now, you’re playing with f**king fire, I’m not going to be responsible for my f**king actions.”
Daniel decided to end the phone call and report the threats to the police – both so others could check on the welfare of the defendant and to report the crime.
Moments after telling him that the call would be terminated, he replied: “Mental health, you’re gonna get f**ked up mate.”
Ms Prince said the phone call caused distress to Daniel, who immediately informed his partner at home and his family members about the incident – warning them to report any suspicious activity.
The court heard that the unemployed Miller, of Melstock Road, Swindon, has a previous conviction for criminal damage in 2015 – but nothing similar to this offence.
Emma Thacker, defending, said her client made full and frank admissions in a police interview and “apologised profusely” for his actions.
She said Miller was suffering from a mental health episode on that day. He had heard his parents arguing about the publication of his brother’s court case and “spiralled out of control”.
Ms Thacker added that, due to mental health difficulties, he lost his employment at McLaren in 2018/2019 and now lives at home with his parents. He also has a good relationship with his ex-partner, whom he has two children with.
“He shows great remorse and accepts that he should have dealt with it a different way… he can do nothing but apologise for what has happened”, she said.
Adding that he’s “working on himself to make sure he doesn’t react in his way in the future”.
Magistrate Ninna Gibson, chair of the bench, decided with her two colleagues – after ten minutes’ deliberation – to adjourn the case for an all-options pre-sentence report.
She said: “We note that it was a very serious offence. We’ve listened to the phone call, it was horrible and caused considerable distress and alarm.
“The court needs more information about you, so we are ordering a pre-sentence report. The result could indeed be a community order or a custodial sentence.”
Miller will return to Swindon Magistrates’ Court for sentence in January. He was released on bail.
