Colchester woman handed suspended sentence for threatening children's lives

COLCHESTER WOMAN HANDED SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR THREATENING CHILDREN'S LIVES

A 30-year-old woman named Samantha Martins who threatened to harm a man’s children if he did not make her pregnant has been sentenced.

She told the victim that he “wouldn’t have any kids” and also threatened to run them over and bury them, according to Ipswich Crown Court.

Martins of Eldred Avenue was convicted of sending a communication that threatened serious injury or death to the victim’s children last year.

The court sentence was a two-year prison term suspended for two years, alongside a 30-day rehabilitation requirement and 300 hours of unpaid work.

Additionally, she received a nine-month GPS trail monitoring requirement and was banned from going near the area where the victim lives for two years.

Prosecutor Hannah Gladwell revealed Martins had 28 previous convictions, including two in May 2020 for burglary and battery involving the victim.

Martins has a history of entering the victim’s home through an insecure window, stealing personal items, and assaulting him during arguments, including punching and causing his nose to bleed.

She also assaulted an emergency worker and served a total of 20 weeks in jail for earlier offenses.

In relation to the current case, the victim reported feeling at the breaking point and declined to make a victim impact statement or request a restraining order.

Martins admitted to the offence early and expressed remorse, stating she was ashamed and knew her actions were wrong.

Her mental health had deteriorated at the time, and she has since stopped drinking and sought support for her mental health issues.