'I will stab you through the heart': Stepson's threats to councillor recovering from heart attack

Daniel Tully warned his 64-year-old stepfather Malcolm Gwinnett, who had a heart transplant in 2011: ‘I will stab you through the heart,’ Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

The message was left on voicemail and city councillor Mr Gwinnett heard it after turning on his phone the following morning. A nurse called the police.

Seven other messages had been left by the defendant – one of which declared: ‘Lock me up as much as you want. I will be straight back out and do you in,’ said Mr Geoffrey Dann, prosecuting.

Former mayor Mr Gwinnett is married to Tully’s mother Linda and as a result the 30-year-old fencer holds a grudge against him, it was said.

Trouble flared when he arrived at the couple’s home with his father whom he had been asked not to bring to the address, the prosecutor said.

Mr Dann explained: “There was an argument between the defendant and members of his family while his father sat in the car outside. There was a degree of pushing and shoving.”

Mrs Gwinnett-Ball injured a leg and while medics treated her at the address in Coalport Road, East Park, following the incident on February 5, Mr Gwinnett was taken ill.

Two days later he was taken to New Cross Hospital and later transferred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham where it was confirmed he had suffered a heart attack. He had four stents inserted into his arteries.

The threatening calls were made by his stepson three days later while Mr Gwinnett, Wolverhampton’s only UKIP councillor, was still in hospital, the court heard.

He said in a victim impact statement: “I have been extremely stressed and am concerned by what he might do next. I worry he will cause damage to my property and vehicles.

"I find him aggressive and threatening. He has a grudge, which prevents him thinking rationally, especially when in drink.”

His wife and step-daughter Carly were also targeted with threatening calls from Tully, whose parents’ marriage ended eight years ago.

He was drunk when making the calls, said Miss Elizabeth Garcia, defending, who added: “He acknowledges that his behaviour was unacceptable. His excessive drinking is a problem.”

One day he wants to rekindle the relationships with his mother and sister but accepts there is a long way to go after causing them such great distress."

Tully from Wodensfield Tower, Plym Close, Wednesfield admitted putting a person in fear of violence and was given six months jail, suspended for two years, with 150 hours unpaid work and a two year restraining order banning contact with his mother, sister and stepfather.

Recorder Anthony Lowe told him: "Whether you intended to add to his problems or not this was a deliberate, nasty offence."

Mr Gwinnett, who did not attend court, said afterwards: "Both my wife and I hope and pray that he gets the help he needs to get better."