Northampton man told woman he beat: 'I'll put you in a wheelchair if you go to the police'

A jealous Northampton man told the partner he beat in the street he would "send guys after her" if she didn't retract her statement she gave to police about the attack.

Radu Stavrache, of Stockley Street, grew jealous when he thought his girlfriend was messaging other men.

So when she received an innocuous message one afternoon in Northampton town centre, the 24-year-old thought he was justified in smashing her phone and assaulting her in front of onlookers.

But Northampton Crown Court heard on May 21 how Stavrache followed the attack up with a string of frightening messages to try and get her to stop working with police to put him away.

The messages, which were read out in court, included: threats to "break down her door and wait for her in her house".

"I'll put you in a wheelchair," read another message. "I'll kill you, I don't care, I'll be in prison in Romania.

"You've got 48 hours to withdraw your [police] statement. If you don't I'll send guys to your house."

Stavrache, who represented himself in court, said he was sorry for his behaviour and said it was "not like him".

But His Honour Judge Rupert Mayo responded: "She was terrified.

"You sent these nasty threats that you would kill her and wait for her in her address.

"It didn't stop there because in the hours and days after that you tried to contact her in the hope that you could prevent her from making a statement to the police."

Stavrache was jailed for 12 months for witness intimidation and common assault. He was also handed a restraining order preventing him from contacting the woman for two years.