JEALOUS EX-PARTNER JAILED AFTER ABUSE AND THREATS
A jealous and obsessive individual caused significant distress to his former partner by engaging in a campaign of aggressive abuse and threats.Kane Guile, 23, expressed violent intentions by warning her that he was contemplating harming someone, implying potential future violence by suggesting he might turn a living person into a corpse.
Additionally, he directed threats towards the shop where she was employed, vowing to send a group of Somali men to vandalize the premises.
Guile, from St Hilda Street in Bridlington, pleaded guilty to causing fear of violence through harassment over a period from October of the previous year to March of this year, as well as to threatening property damage.
Prosecutor Stephen Welch revealed that Guile's relationship with the woman began in April 2022, following their initial meeting in August 2021.
Although their relationship started well, by early the following year, her perception of his conduct had deteriorated as she observed changes in his behaviour towards her.
"He became violent and aggressive towards her," said Mr Welch.
"He behaved badly while drunk and formed the false impression that she was cheating on him.
She found out that the defendant had been unfaithful to her and this caused a severe deterioration in the relationship." The woman separated from Guile in October.
He accepted this at first but he then tried to persuade her to return.
He started telephoning her and sending messages to her on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Snapchat, telling her that he loved her and had never cheated.
He was abusive to her in the messages.
They stopped but, in December, he resumed contact and tried to persuade her to resume the relationship.
He used insulting words about her and sent about 25 messages a day until January this year.
Guile sent more abusive messages in February and March and he warned her that she would pay the price if she did not answer her phone.
One of the threats was that he would be "bodying something" – an apparent reference to "turning a living person into a dead body".
The woman later said: "This has caused me a lot of stress and I am constantly worrying about further contact from him.
Since leaving him and blocking him, I have been much better." In a separate incident, Guile repeatedly telephoned the Bridlington convenience store where his ex-girlfriend worked, despite being asked by the owner to stop bothering her.
During one threat, he said: "I can get 20 Somalians and send them up to your shop.
I am going to smash up your shop front." The shop owner genuinely believed that Guile would damage her shop and that he would get someone to do it for him.
There were at least 55 calls to the shop.
Guile had a conviction for causing grievous bodily harm in October 2021.
The incident involved him repeatedly punching the victim, leaving him with a broken jaw.
He also had convictions for making threats, dishonesty, harassment, breaching a criminal behaviour order, possessing a blade and possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply.
Cathy Kioko-Gilligan, mitigating, said that the offending was unpleasant but Guile was immature at the time.
The relationship at first had a positive effect on Guile but, when it broke down, it caused him "significant disquiet" and he struggled.
"He is remorseful for his behaviour and understands that he has caused this complainant great anxiety and upset and he is sorry for that," said Miss Kioko-Gilligan.
"In custody, he has new motivation to kick-start his life.
"He is motivated to gain employment.
He was a groundsman and he can go back to that work.
He is a new man.
He has changed.
He wants to continue to change." Recorder Simon Jackson KC told Guile: "You embarked on an appalling campaign towards a woman who had helped stabilise yourself with all the difficulties that you have had.
You have an appalling record.
You have convictions that involve violence." Guile had made his ex-girlfriend's life "an absolute misery" including by making threats to her and to the shop where she worked.
"These offences are so serious that only immediate custody is appropriate," said Recorder Jackson.
Guile was jailed for two years and he was given a five-year restraining order.
