Rowley had been in a relationship with his victim for 27 years previously, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court was told.And in case you were thinking this was just another random ‘domestic’, well, no:
But the 62-year-old was driven to an "explosion of temper" by the financial fall-out from the breakdown of the relationship.
Although the couple split in 2009, the animosity between Rowley and the woman spiralled and by January 2011 he was issued with a harassment notice.
Nine months later he sent four racist 'joke' texts to his ex, who is of mixed race, and on September 17 he went to her new home in Hillswood Avenue, Leek, in a rage.Do you think he’d have got that much if not for the ‘joke’ texts? Well, even the judge doesn’t!
While in her home, he broke a vase and kicked a television.
Yesterday he admitted racially aggravated harassment and affray and was sentenced to eight months in prison.
Judge Paul Glenn said the sentence would have been a community order if it was a simple charge of harassment, but the racially aggravated nature of the texts made it much more serious.Even though he couldn’t possibly have been racist if he had a child with her!
It also seems to have been a bit ‘six of one, half-a-dozen of the other’ at least, according to a comment:
by dlsn01Interesting. I wonder why he got the advice he did from his solicitor? And I wonder what position his ex-wife holds on the council.
“I am David Rowleys wife; whist nothing can ever excuse Davids action, (which he will regret for the rest of his life), it was a moment of madness after years of abuse at his ex hands. This haressment has included countless phone calls and text to myself and my children from her work phone in stoke council. David pleaded guilty because he was informed that it would be a none custodial sentence if he did, and we were worn thin after three years of this sad saga. Pleading guilty did not mean that he accepted all the allergations and now I wish to God he had pleaded not guilty and fought all the way. Our only wish has been to be left to get on with our lives and I pray that the lady in question will now allow us to do this. Hopefully she can move on and have a happy life to.”
I fear you are most likely correct about the texts leading to the prison sentence, Julia. Which is madness in itself of course.
ReplyDeleteAs to the seriousness of any crime, having to work hard to resist the urge to slap on the capslock here... It should not matter WHY someone did something, nor to what pigeon-hole the victim can be stuffed but what harm was done!
Why this simple bit of common sense cannot be seen by our "legal" system dwellers, God only knows.
There's a deeply salutory message contained within this tale of woe ..
ReplyDeleteProbably best expressed by the old saying about "Birds of a feather .." etc ..
"Why this simple bit of common sense cannot be seen by our "legal" system dwellers, God only knows."
ReplyDeleteBecause the legislation has been passed that way by their senatorial patroni - to specifically penalise acts against particularly vocal "communities".
What an ingenious way to poison and break up mixed race marriages!
ReplyDeleteGotta hand it to the people haters, they are competent...
also see: 'The Seeker' (Asterix and Obelix)
" It should not matter WHY someone did something, nor to what pigeon-hole the victim can be stuffed but what harm was done!"
ReplyDeleteSpot on!
"What an ingenious way to poison and break up mixed race marriages!
"
Hmmmm. Looking at it like that...