…By Judah Olanisebee for TDPel Media.
Jilted Barmaid Threatens Ex-Lover with Violent Messages, Avoids Jail
The Threats and References to Infamous Saddleworth Moor
A barmaid named Kerry Brown, aged 40, unleashed a series of abusive and threatening messages upon discovering that her former lover, Mark Carpenter, had entered a new relationship.
In her late-night communications, Brown, a mother-of-one, explicitly mentioned Saddleworth Moors, the site where notorious murderers Myra Hindley and Ian Brady buried their victims in the 1960s.
Expressing her anger, Brown declared her intention to subject Carpenter to torture and dismemberment, stating, “I’m going to tie you up and tear your head off.
You need a trip to Saddleworth Moor, you’ll be chopped up and tortured.”
She also callously mocked Carpenter’s recovery from a stroke, suggesting that it was karma.
From Friends to Hostility – The Deterioration of a Relationship
Brown and Carpenter had initially met during Brown’s employment as a barmaid at the White Hart pub in Droylsden.
Following a one-night stand in 2017, they maintained a friendly connection, with Carpenter even offering financial assistance and allowing Brown to rent his holiday home in Cyprus.
However, the situation soured when Carpenter began dating someone new.
Brown’s anger intensified, leading to her harassing him through a barrage of unsolicited messages.
Victim’s Distress and Legal Consequences
Carpenter, deeply affected by the relentless harassment, expressed his emotional turmoil and physical exhaustion caused by Brown’s actions.
Fearing for his safety, Carpenter detailed the distress he experienced, particularly due to receiving messages at unsociable hours and the use of withheld numbers.
He admitted to feeling scared to leave his house, uncertain about the extent of Brown’s potential for harm.
The case reached Manchester magistrates court, where Brown, currently residing in Clayton and working at a McDonald’s burger bar, pleaded guilty to the charges of harassment spanning from October to April.
As a result, she received a 12-month community order, requiring her to complete 20 rehabilitation activity hours, 150 hours of unpaid work, and pay £85 in court costs and a £114 statutory surcharge.
Furthermore, a restraining order of 12 months was issued, prohibiting any contact between Brown and Carpenter, including her presence at his address in Ashton-under-Lyne.
The Troubled Mind of the Offender
The prosecutor, Steve Woodman, presented evidence showcasing the deteriorating relationship between Brown and Carpenter, emphasizing her escalating anger and threats.
While Brown had no previous convictions, her lawyer, Osman Munir, revealed that she had received a caution in 2021 for sending malicious communications.
Munir expressed Brown’s remorse for her actions, highlighting her recent suicide attempt and stability in terms of accommodation and part-time employment.
In conclusion, the court recognized the severity of Brown’s harassment, yet opted for a community order rather than imprisonment.
The chairman of the magistrates expressed hope that Brown would not reappear in court, to which she cryptically responded, “not this court.”
Regardless, the legal consequences and restraining order aim to protect Carpenter from further harm, allowing him to move forward from this distressing ordeal.