A Knaresborough man appeared at Harrogate Magistrates Court charged with two offences last week. 

Leroy Macfarlane pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage to property valued under £5,000 and one count of sending a letter/communication/article conveying a threatening message on Friday (January 10).

Alison Whiteley, prosecuting, told the court the victim – a named woman – was travelling on a bus from Harrogate to Knaresborough at 10.30pm on December 29, 2023.

The woman received a message from Macfarlane asking to meet her but she declined.

The court heard Macfarlane, of Windsor Lane, sent the woman a message threatening to smash her house up. He sent her voice notes and left her 22 missed calls. 

Ms Whiteley said the woman got off the bus and saw Macfarlane “screaming into his phone” as he continued to send her messages and voice notes.

The woman went to the defendant’s grandmother’s house, where her mother collected her as she felt scared of Macfarlane.

Ms Whiteley read out more messages Marcfarlane sent the victim, which said:

The court heard the police were then called but Macfarlane continued to message the woman. A police officer heard the 27-year-old defendant say he had “ripped off her back door handle". The value of the damage to the woman's door is not known. 

He also threatened to kill her family, Ms Whiteley told the court. 

Macfarlane was not legally represented in court. He was given the opportunity to provide further information on the incident, including whether he disputed the prosecution’s evidence, but he declined.

The magistrates adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report to be prepared. Macfarlane will be sentenced on February 14 at Harrogate Magistrates Court.