'These threats were rather chilling': Son harassed his dad by threatening to 'blow up' his Leeds business and breached order banning him from contacting ex partner

A son who threatened to destroy his dad's electrical business during a campaign of 'chilling' harassment has been sent to prison.
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Nicholas Dodsworth was locked up for 21 months after a court heard how he also breached a court order banning him from going to his ex partner's home in Leeds.

Leeds Crown Court heard Dodsworth subjected his dad to months of harassment but he was reluctant to contact the police.

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Ayman Khokhar, prosecuting, said Dodsworth tried to damage his father's electrical business by contacting suppliers and customers to discredit him.

Nicholas Dodsworth was jailed for 21 monthsNicholas Dodsworth was jailed for 21 months
Nicholas Dodsworth was jailed for 21 months

His father received a phone call from his son in summer last year telling him that a drug dealer was coming down to his business premises to set fire to vehicles outside the building.

The prosecutor said: "This caused the complainant considerable distress because he was forced to move all the vans away in case the threats materialised."

On October 5 last year the victim allowed Dodsworth to borrow an electrical testing kit.

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Mr Khokhar said he allowed the defendant to take the kit as he "feared the consequences" if he refused.

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The following day he sent more texts threatening to have his father killed if he contacted police.

He also threatened to "blow up" his father's work premises.

The prosecutor said: "The complainant said he felt stressed and feared he would suffer a heart attack."

Dodsworth was arrested on October 13 and he kicked a police officer in the groin when he was taken into custody.

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The court heard Dodsworth also breached a non-molestation order on three occasions by contacting his former partner.

The order, made by a court in May last year, banned Dodsworth from contacting the woman or going near her home.

He turned up at her property in Pudsey on October 11.

He banged on the door demanding to be allowed in.

Children were in the house at the time and were frightened.

On January 3 this year he returned to the house and tried to open the cellar door to get inside.

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A neighbour saw Dodsworth cause damage to the victim's car by kicking and punching the vehicle.

He breached the order for a third time by sending e-mails to the victim.

The mum provided a statement to the court describing how her mental health had suffered as a result of the offending.

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Dodsworth, of Victoria Park Road, Pudsey, pleaded guilty to harassment, criminal damage, assaulting an emergency worker and three breaches of a non-molestation order.

He has previous convictions for kidnapping, harassment and breaching a restraining order.

Jane Cooper, mitigating, said Dodsworth had a strained relationship with his father since the death of his mother when he was a child.

She said: "I submit that what brings the defendant back before the court on a fairly regular basis is the difficult circumstances he found in his early years."

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Sentencing, Recorder Abdul Iqbal QC told Dodsworth he should be "deeply ashamed" of himself over the offences.

He said: "These threats were made with an undercurrent which was rather chilling.

"You were threatening your father, telling him to keep his mouth shut or there would be consequences.

"All these threats were, I am satisfied, to harass your father and make his life as difficult as possible."