A man from South Shields has been jailed for 12 months after confronting a woman who had reported him to the police and threatening to kill her son, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
Incident seen as intimidation after complaint to police
Jonathan Evans, 33, of Coston Drive, South Shields, admitted perverting the course of justice after a series of events in June which began when a woman called 999 to report threats to her and her property. Officers arrested Evans and released him on bail with conditions that prohibited him from contacting the woman or attending her address.
Two days later the woman encountered Evans in South Shields. The court was told he told her to withdraw the complaint and warned he would kill her son, leaving her frightened. Later the same day she received multiple phone calls from two numbers the judge said were linked to Evans, and CCTV from a neighbouring property captured him attending her home before a neighbour chased him away.
- Offender: Jonathan Evans, 33, Coston Drive, South Shields
- Offence admitted: Perverting the course of justice
- Sentence: 12 months' imprisonment, imposed by Judge Sarah Mallett
Court remarks and defendant's statement
Judge Sarah Mallett told Evans: "You told her to drop the charges against you and then you threatened to kill her son." The judge said the woman clearly felt scared as a result of his words and the subsequent calls and visit to her address.
"You told her to drop the charges against you and then you threatened to kill her son."
Evans appeared at his sentencing hearing via video link from prison. He addressed the court and expressed remorse, saying he was sorry and wanted to avoid further trouble. He told the judge he had been staying out of drugs while in custody and vowed to change his life, adding: "I'm sick of the criminal life. You will never see me in front of a judge again." After the sentence was passed he commented he felt the jail term was fair.
Penny Hall, defending, told the court Evans had support from a long-term partner and had been upset that the woman had reported him for something he said he had not done.
Local context and wider consequences
The case underlines the risks faced by victims who report offences and the challenge of enforcing bail conditions designed to protect them. Neighbour intervention was credited with preventing a further escalation when Evans was seen at the complainant's home and was chased away.
Evans has an existing criminal record and was serving a suspended sentence at the time of these events. While the original allegations that prompted the 999 call were not pursued in a separate prosecution, his conduct in trying to influence the complainant and attending her address prompted the perverting the course of justice charge and the custodial sentence.
| Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| Initial report | Woman called 999 in June to report threats to her and her property |
| Police action | Evans arrested and bailed with no-contact conditions |
| Subsequent incident | Two days later Evans confronted the woman in South Shields, threatened her son, made repeated calls and attended her address |
| Court outcome | Evans pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and was sentenced to 12 months |
For residents, the case is a reminder of the importance of reporting threats and the role neighbours and CCTV can play in preventing harm. The sentence reflects the court’s view of the seriousness of intimidating a witness and attempting to obstruct the course of justice.
Local authorities and police continue to emphasise support for victims who come forward. Those with concerns about similar behaviour in their area are advised to contact police or use available victim support services.
