Jealous boyfriend left girlfriend in fear of arson attack after sending flame emoji on mobile phone

Jamie Testo, 23, of Waterloo Court, Sulgrave, accompanied it with an image of her house and a threat to damage the Gateshead woman’s car, a court heard.

It came amid a flurry of pestering phone calls and an offensive post on social media site Facebook over two days.

Prosecutor Grace Taylor told magistrates in South Tyneside the couple’s three-month relationship ended on Friday, May 1, after a row.

She said: “She states the argument was over the fact that he was jealous about her child’s father.

“She would describe the relationship over the three months as generally good, but they did have arguments over the father.

“He went out drinking and she started to get numerous calls. She went to her mum’s home and was in bed and told him to leave her alone.

“Overnight from May 1 to May 2 she got numerous calls, approximately 20 calls from the defendant.”

Ms Taylor added: “On May 2 he put a comment on Facebook which was denigrating towards the complainant.

“His family and friends started to comment on the posts. She reported the post and had it removed.

“She couldn’t remember what it was exactly, but the defendant rang her and asked her to look at Facebook because she hadn’t been answering.

“The defendant became aggressive and threatened to damage her car and sent a flame emoji and a house image to her phone.

“She perceived it as being a threat to set it on fire. Threats were made towards her daughter’s father.”

Angus Westgarth, defending, said: “He is remorseful about sending these messages. He understands that she has moved, and he has moved on.

“Temper, jealously, call it what you like. It’s a lovers’ tiff that got the better of him.”

The case was adjourned for reports and Testo, who pleaded guilty to harassment without violence, will be sentenced at the same court on Monday, January 4.

He was granted bail on condition he does not contact his former partner, nor go anywhere he knows her to be.

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