Man sent ex-girlfriend photos of shotgun cartridges

Michael Nichols also told his victim he was waiting outside her house



A Coventry man sent an ex-girlfriend a string of death threats with some accompanied by pictures of shotgun cartridges and another telling her: “You’re f***ing dead.”

Michael Nichols’ horrific messages also saw him tell the woman “I’m going to bite your face off” and “I’m going to blow your head off.”

The 37-year-old, of Caradoc Close, Henley Green, Coventry, was sentenced to 12 months in prison after pleading guilty at Warwick Crown Court to two charges of making threats to kill.

Nichols was also given a consecutive three-month sentence for disclosing a private film of his victim to her brother, which he also admitted.

Recorder Anupama Thompson said: “This was a persistent series of messages over a long period of time which were clearly premeditated, because you had to take pictures of the cartridges and the handgun.

“The messages where absolutely abhorrent and you caused her real fear. There is no doubt in my mind just how genuine and deep-rooted her fear was.”

Prosecutor Scott Coughtrie said Nichols and the woman, who lives in Nuneaton, split up last year after she ended the relationship, and he then began sending her threatening messages.

They became more sinister towards the end of the year, when he sent her pictures of shotgun cartridges with the message: “One for you and one for your man.”

A number of messages were exchanged between them on December 23, but she made it clear she had a new partner and was not going to go back to him.

Jailing Nichols, Recorder Thompson told him: “You sent her a series of messages which included sending her pictures of shotgun cartridges.

“The messages became increasingly abusive, and you sent her a picture of a handgun, telling her repeatedly she was dead, and you told her you were outside and were going to shoot her.

“You then told her on Christmas Day she would be dead by New Year and that she should say goodbye to her kids.”

Recorder Thompson also imposed a restraining order banning Nichols from contacting his victim in any way or entering the Nuneaton road where she lives.