Abusive son’s vile Facebook messages

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on Friday how Jonathan Slater, 34, sent insulting messages to his father’s partner including sexual threats and death threats.

Prosecuting solicitor Ian Shaw said: “The complainant is the partner of Mr Slater’s father and she said there have been difficulties with the defendant. Things had come to a head because on Mr Slater’s account there has been a lack of contact with his father because he has taken the view his dad owes him money.

“What he resorted to is sending messages on Facebook to the complainant which are vile and have caused great upset. The messages make reference to raping and committing violence to her and that she should commit suicide and they are not words that anyone should use.”

Slater, who has previous convictions for threats and criminal damage, pleaded guilty, that at Matlock and elsewhere in November, he caused his father’s partner to fear violence would be caused against her by the sending of offensive Facebook messages.

Mr Shaw said the messages included threats that any failure to return the money would result in raping and the chopping off of his father’s partner’s head. They included comments about the kidnapping of a relative of the complainant and urinating on the grave of her relatives. Julie Page, defending, said Slater, of Houfton Road, Bolsover, began offending after the breakdown with his father over owed money.

Ms Page added other messages were simply derogatory. Magistrates committed the case to Derby Crown Court for sentencing on May 30.