Jamie Ferbrache, 39, of La Moye Road, Vale, admitted an offence under the Domestic Abuse and Related Provisions Law and another of using the telecommunications network for the purpose of causing annoyance and anxiety to others.
The court was told how he had gone to the woman’s home at about 11am in November last year, uninvited.
An argument broke out and he was verbally abusive towards her. He slammed the door three times before leaving to go to his car. The woman followed and told him she would be calling the police.
When officers responded to her call at 3pm that day, the woman also made disclosures about messages Ferbrache had sent her across various applications. Many were abusive in nature and he had made threats to kill her. Some of the messages were interspersed with apologies but he quickly reverted to the language he used before.
He told police in interview that it was a 'toxic relationship'. He admitted what had happened at her home and said he had never intended to hurt her. He was now undergoing anger management therapy.
He had matters on his record, the last being for criminal damage and two counts of resisting police in March 2024.
Defending, Advocate Samuel Steel said his client fully accepted the seriousness of his actions. They had been committed in the context of a relationship breakdown after 13 years. He had referred himself to the Oberlands Centre voluntarily.
Judge Gary Perry said the defendant clearly had a temper from what was on his previous record.
‘It never ceases to amaze me how one person is prepared to treat another when there has been a loving relationship before,’ he said.
‘Mobile phones make it easier for people to fire off angry and abusive messages when they are sitting at home stewing.’
Ferbrache was ordered to perform 110 hours’ community service as a direct alternative to three months in custody on both matters, concurrent.
A probation order was imposed for two years with a condition that is assessed for and attends appointments with the Sarnia Programme to address his domestic behaviour issues. A restraining order was also meted for two years.