Man jailed for online death threat under Online Safety Act

A Pembrokeshire man has been locked up for a year after sending a chilling death threat online.

Michael Carruthers, 34, from Magdalene Street in Merlin’s Bridge, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court facing two charges – common assault and sending a communication threatening death under the Online Safety Act.

The court heard how Carruthers physically assaulted a man in Haverfordwest on January 13. Just three days later, on January 16, he sent an online message stating “I’m going to f***ing kill him”, intending or being reckless as to whether someone seeing the threat would believe it would be carried out.

Carruthers entered guilty pleas to both offences.

Magistrates were told the defendant was “unmanageable in the community” and had a “flagrant disregard for people and their property”.

He received a 12-month prison sentence for the death threat charge, with a concurrent 12-week sentence for the assault. Carruthers must also pay £200 in compensation to his victim and £85 in costs.