Low Newton inmate threatened to kill County Durham prison lover

Bethany Mulliner met the woman while they were both serving at Low Newton prison in Durham before sending a flurry of messages which left the victim feeling terrified.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 22-year-old failed to heed a judge’s warning to return to her native Midlands when she was released from custody.

Bethany Mulliner (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Mairi Clancy, prosecuting, said: “The defendant sent messages conveying threat of death including ‘you ain’t making another birthday if it’s down to me. I will happily sit in jail knowing I have killed you so no one else has to go through what I went through’.”

In other messages, Mulliner threatened to make the victim dig her own grave and told her she would put a gun to her head and stab her to death.

HMP Low Newton (Image: Stuart Boulton/The Northern Echo.)

In a victim impact statement, the woman said she was left feeling scared and distressed by the actions of the defendant.

Mulliner, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to sending communications threatening death or serious harm between April 11 and July 11 last year.

Tabitha Buck, mitigating, said her client had suffered with her mental health which resulted in her criminal behaviour.

She said: “It her pre-sentence report that in their assessment it was all words in this offending behaviour. There was no intention of her to carry out the violence offending.”

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Judge Amanda Rippon sentenced Mulliner to 20 months in custody and issued her with an indefinite restraining order to protect her victim who lives in the County Durham area.

“You sent her messages conveying various threats of death,” she said.

“Upon your release from custody, you didn’t return to Stoke like you promised me, instead you attempted to contact her and went to her address.

“In her victim personal statement, she says she is terrified of you and has left her home address because she is scared you would turn up at her house.”