Mansfield man's threat to petrol bomb witness in case against his brothers

A Mansfield man admitted threatening to petrol bomb the home of a witness in a court case.
Mansfield Magistrates CourtMansfield Magistrates Court
Mansfield Magistrates Court

Dean Taylor, 23, of Westhill Drive, changed his plea to guilty when he appeared before Mansfield magistrates, via video link from prison, on Tuesday.

The court heard that Taylor approached the witness, who it is alleged was the victim of an assault by two of Taylor’s brothers, in Kirkby, on July 8.

Robert Carr, prosecuting, said: “The defendant said - ‘You need to drop the charges against my brothers’ - in an aggressive and demanding way.

“The victim told Taylor to ‘f*** off’,” said Mr Carr.

“The defendant said: ‘You had better watch yourself. I will petrol bomb your house.’

“The victim took this as a very serious threat to him and his neighbour who lives upstairs.”

The man told Taylor he would call the police, and Taylor called him a ‘grass’, the court heard.

“It was very clear that the defendant was trying to intimidate him,” said Mr Carr.

“He says he is very much in fear for his safety and feels that Mr Taylor might carry out the threat.

“He describes him as being very menacing.”

Parts of the conversation were overheard by the victim’s partner and his neighbour.

The court heard Taylor had previous convictions for possessing a Class B drug in 2014 and criminal damage in 2015.

Chris Lacy, mitigating, said: “It is clear that what the victim said has been slightly embellished.”
He said that Taylor walked past the victim’s house and asked him why he was staring at him.

“Mr Taylor made it clear that he wasn’t part of it. He says that the next thing that happened the police were called,” said Mr Lacey.

“He had no idea why the police needed to be involved.

“He made a silly comment. He accepts that he has committed the offence.”

Taylor initially pleaded not guilty when he first appeared in court on July 11.

Sentencing was adjourned for reports from the probation service.

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