Bitter Leeds ex made threats to kill woman in 16 drunken voice-message rants
A bitter ex husband who was served his divorce papers while in jail made threats to kill the woman during a series of drunken voice messages.
Clifford Smart left 16 ranting messages in just 25 minutes, Leeds Crown Court heard this week.
The 55-year-old was previously jailed for attacking the woman and ordered to stay away from her.
The pair had been together for 13 years having been married for 11.
It finally ended when he assaulted her and the restraining order put in place.
On March 30, 2024, the woman woke to find the messages sent between 2.36am and 3.01am with Smart issuing a number of threats.
He told her: “I’m going to deal with you.”
He also added: “My people will kill you. You think are safe? You are not safe. You have to take what you get now.”
Smart, of Haslewood Drive, Leeds, admitted sending threatening communications, reckless as to whether the recipient feared the threat will be carried out.
He has three previous convictions, including strangulation and ABH of his ex wife. He received a 24-week jail sentence in that instance.
Mitigating for his latest offending, Emily Hassell accepted the messages were a “particularly unpleasant tirade” but added: “He felt there were lots of unresolved issues .
“He was served the divorce papers while in custody.”
She said his alcohol use was “out of control” when he sent the messages and feared he would be deported, despite having indefinite leave to remain in the UK and having spent 20 years here.
Judge Penelope Belcher described the messages as “frightening and thoroughly unpleasant”.
She gave him a 10-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, ordered him to complete 25 rehabilitation days with probation, a six-month GPS monitoring tag and a new five-year restraining order.