A MAN sent ‘terrible and upsetting’ messages to his former partner of seven years because of problems with childcare, a court heard.

Kyle Clayton, of Brathay Crescent in Barrow, was sentenced at Preston Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to threatening to disclose private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress and sending malicious communications in the form of offensive messages.  

Prosecutor Francis McEntee said Clayton, 25, had committed the offences over a three-day period in March last year.  

The court heard the defendant called the mother of his daughter a ‘slag’, that he hoped she would be ‘hit by a bus’ and that she should ‘slit her own wrists and die with her uncle’, who was in hospital at the time.

Mr McEntee said Clayton also threatened to show an intimate image of the victim to her employer.

When the complainant said she would contact the police because of Clayton’s activity, the court heard he responded by saying: “They do not scare me. Maybe jail is what I need.”

Clayton admitted the offences in police interview but argued that the complainant had not sent accurate screenshots of her responses to his messages, the court heard.

Mr McEntee said the mother suffered from anxiety, that she could not sleep properly and that she now struggles with trust and socialising because of the defendant’s actions.

In mitigation, Richard Flook, representing Clayton, said: “He suffers from ADHD and has significant mental health issues which affect how he controls his emotions.

“He found it difficult to deal with the relationship breaking down because he was not able to see his daughter as much as he would like.

“He says the victim would use his daughter against him. It is with this background that he admits to sending the distressing messages. He accepts it was a terrible way to manage a difficult situation.

“He last saw his daughter on Christmas Eve after contact was arranged by his mother. He relies on his mother significantly and needs the support of her going forward.”

The court heard Clayton had no previous convictions.

His Honour Judge Philip Parry said he could impose a 12-month community order instead of a custodial sentence given the defendant’s immaturity and lack of previous convictions.

Judge Parry said: “You let your feelings be known by sending these terrible and upsetting messages over a period of three or four days. You plainly lost your temper.

“I can see you hanging your head in shame and so you should.

“Sending messages like this does not show you to be a good father at all. You cannot behave like this ever again.

“I hope this is the end of an ugly and unpleasant chapter.”

Conditions of the community order required Clayton to complete 25 RAR days and 120 hours unpaid work.

He was also made the subject of a two-year restraining order preventing him from contacting directly or indirectly the complainant except through a third party for arranging child contact.