A MAN who threatened to kill a witness who was due to give evidence against him in an assault case has been jailed for three years and seven months.

Paul Michael Bishop, appearing via video link at Durham Crown Court, put his head in his hands when Judge Christopher Prince said he had “struck at the heart of justice” and deserved a deterrent sentence.

David Crook, prosecuting, said Bishop was due to appear as a defendant in a case of assault at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court on December 7 last year.

Bishop saw his victim in a witness room on the ground floor as he entered the court. He later went for a cigarette break and pointed at him, saying loudly through the window: “You'll not be laughing no more. I will kill you. You will be history”.

The witness and his partner were terrified by the experience and the case did not go ahead.

In his victim impact statement the man said that since the incident, he had been afraid of leaving his house and would only travel in a taxi.

Stephen Constantine, mitigating, said: “This was not a premeditated or pre-planned act. It happened by way of chance.

“When the threat was made, it was in generalised terms and was not accompanied by violence or damage.”

He added that while Bishop did have an “appalling record” there had been a downturn in his offending.

“He tells me he is getting too old for going to court all the time,” said Mr Constantine.

Passing sentence, the judge said: “You made a threat to kill a witness intending he would be frightened and the result of the fear you caused him was the course of justice could not be pursued. That is serious.”

He added: “One thing the courts will always take seriously are acts that are intended to strike at the very heart of justice.

“In this case I intend to pass a deterrent sentence that makes it clear to any other persons who threaten witnesses, that if they do so they must expect to receive a substantial sentences.”

The 31-year-old, who is from the east Durham area but is of no fixed abode, admitted witness intimidation.

He was made subject of a restraining order banning him from contacting the victim or his partner.