A teenager threatened to ‘order a hit’ on his cousin after she ‘confessed to catching feelings for him’ whilst he lived with her, a court heard.
Jimmy Bob Davis, 18, sent abusive and threatening messages to relative Tia Curtis in a group chat on a social media platform on 24 November last year.
Prosecutor Keith Ballinger said the defendant, of Millway Road, Andover, had been living with his second cousin when he “had nowhere else to go” in August 2021.
Ms Curtis received a number of abusive messages from Davis’ girlfriend before a group chat – including numerous people – was created.
In the group chat, the defendant threatened to “put a hit on her head” and “rip her a new a***hole”.
He also said the victim “needs to be banged like” and threatened that those involved in the group conversation would “go to her flat and f**k her up”.
Ms Curtis called the police and Davis was subsequently arrested. In a custody interview, he claimed he made the threats because he was angry and would not carry them out.
Appearing at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (22 March), Davis pleaded guilty to an offence under the Communications Act.
Duty solicitor Tony Nowogrodzki said his client should have “dealt with this in a more mature fashion”, stating that he is “very remorseful” for his behaviour.
Continuing, he added: “I don’t think anyone believes he has the power to order a hit.
“She told Mr Davis that she had feelings for him. He thought it was disgusting because she’s a family member, and then the girlfriend got involved.”
The court heard that the defendant is now living away from Swindon, with his girlfriend in Hampshire, and he is working to get his life on track. He works with his partner’s father as a roofer.
Chief magistrate Peter Wells told him to pay a £80 fine for the crime. A one-year restraining order was also imposed, prohibiting Davis from contacting the victim.
He must also pay £85 prosecution costs and a £34 surcharge.
