Suspended sentence for ex who made death threat

Damian Milliken (23) bombarded Brierfield Co-op worker Carla Shaw with social media messages which had photos of them together and made comments about why she didn’t love him anymore.

He turned up at her home in Hibson Road, opened her window and put his arm through, catching her in the throat. The defendant then walked off, shouting: “I will kill you.”

Burnley magistrates were told how Milliken was subject to a non-molestation order made last October and was banned from going to Ms Shaw’s home or contacting her.

He left his victim scared. She told police: “He doesn’t seem to accept the relationship is at an end.”

The defendant, now of Red Rake, Blackburn, had denied harassment at Nelson, between February 3rd and 22nd and five counts of breaching the non-molestation order in Nelson, but was convicted after a trial on May 18th.

He received 12 weeks in jail, suspended for a year, with a 12 month community order and a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement and was told to pay £600 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

The defendant was handed a year-long restraining order to keep him away from Ms Shaw and prohibiting him from going to the Co-op in Colne Road.

Bench chairman Mr John James told Milliken: “You caused the aggrieved severe stress. It’s quite clear she was quite terrified by some of the situations.”

Prosecutor Mr Andrew Robinson said on February 4th, the defendant rang the victim’s doorbell and told her: “I know you still love me. Stop playing games.”

The day after, Milliken went to the Co-op and told Ms Shaw he still loved her.

On February 8th, he went to Hibson Road, managed to open Ms Shaw’s window from outside and put his arm through as she tried to shut it. He walked off threatening to kill her.

Mr Robinson said on February 17th, Carla Shaw received 45 messages on a Facebook application from the defendant, with photos of them together.

Two days later, he rang her doorbell and posted a picture of their child, with a note.

On February 21st, Milliken had supervised contact with the youngster and posted on Facebook he was taking the child to London. The prosecutor said: “He hadn’t taken the child to London.”

Mr Robinson continued: “On one occasion, in the middle of this happening, he made a Facebook profile, purporting to be the victim, saying she had lied to the police.”

Ben Leech (defending Milliken) said the complainant had accepted they had reconciled during the period the non-molestation order was said to have been in place.

They had been seeing each other between last October and December for the sake of the child.

He said: “The case the defendant had was he was never aware the non-molestation order was in place. He had not been served with it.”

Mr Leech, who described the circumstances of the case as “very sad and emotional”, said the probation service could work with Milliken. He added: “He wishes to change his ways.”