‘Obsessed' man accused of blackmailing and threatening ex partner refused bail
A man accused of blackmailing and threatening his ex-partner, a woman he is allegedly obsessed with, was refused bail for the third time today.
A police officer told Antrim Magistrates Court, sitting in Ballymena, the complainant is in 'constant fear' that if Isaac Woods is freed 'he will contact her or turn up at her family home.'
Woods, 28, from Chaine Court in Antrim, is currently in custody on remand facing five offences, allegedly committed between 11-15 May this year, including stalking, blackmail, harassment, making a threat to destroy the complainant's home and domestic abuse.
The court has heard previously that according to the police case, Woods sent six emails to his former partner where he 'has made threats to commit suicide' unless she unblocks his phone number and social media profiles.
The distressed woman interpreted the mails as Woods 'trying to control her again by using threats of suicide,' as that was allegedly a pattern of behaviour during their relationship whereby he would ask for money and if that was refused, 'he would get angry and threaten suicide.'
Two days after she received the emails, the woman went to work but when she returned home, her grandparents handed her the threatening note which had been pushed through the letterbox and when she read it, the woman recognised the handwriting as that of the defendant.
The officer told the court the note had been written on a 'quite distinctive notepad' and when Woods was arrested, he had a phone number written on an identical piece of paper and a search of his home uncovered the actual notepad.
The alleged victim is 'scared that he will show up at her work or her home address and his behaviour has became more erratic,' said the constable, 'she's scared of what he would do after the threats to burn the house.'
During police interviews Woods 'either gave no comment or denied the offences,' but the earlier court heard how he was on police bail for other similar matters when he sent the emails.
In court today, the officer submitted that by breaching police bail Woods has shown that he will not abide by bail conditions and 'there's a likelihood of reoffending.'
Isaac Woods
News in 90 Seconds - June 11th
She revealed there had been a further alleged bail breach while Woods has been in custody, in that he told prison staff he wanted to call his mother but actually gave them the victim's phone number to ring.
While Woods was proposing to live at an address in Randalstown, the court heard that was less than six miles from the injured party so 'police do not believe the address is suitable.'
Defence counsel Grant Powles conceded that Woods had been refused bail when he first appeared and again by the High Court, but he argued the now proposed address was a sufficient change of circumstance and was a suitable bail address.
He also suggested that bail conditions could be attached but District Judge Nigel Broderick said he was not satisfied the address was suitable and further that 'I'm concerned that he won't abide by conditions.'
Refusing bail and remanding Woods back into custody, he adjourned the case until 8 July.
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