Former soldier, 44, admits trolling BBC presenter Louise Minchin and her daughter
Former soldier, 44, admits sending death threats to BBC presenter Louise Minchin and threatening to ‘rape’ her daughter – four years after he was spared jail for stalking his ex-girlfriend Girls Aloud star Nicola Roberts
Carl Davies was due to face trial at Caernarfon Crown Court but changed pleasHe posted intimidating comments on the accounts of Minchin and her daughter He’s previously been convicted for stalking Girls Aloud singer Nicola RobertsJudge said the content of messages sent was ‘extremely alarming, very serious’
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A former soldier has been warned he faces jail after admitting sending death threats to former BBC Breakfast presenter Louise Minchin and threatening to ‘rape’ her daughter.
Carl Davies, 44, was due to face trial at Caernarfon Crown Court today over the intimidating comments sent on Instagram to broadcaster Minchin and her adult daughter Mia between July 14 and 17 last year.
But he then changed his pleas to guilty before a jury was sworn in, after his lawyer told the court he ‘could not recognise the behaviour’ and claimed the comments must have been sent when he was drunk.
Davies, of Flint, North Wales, was previously spared jail but handed a restraining order after being convicted of stalking his ex-girlfriend, Girls Aloud singer Nicola Roberts.
The harassment – over a four-year period after their relationship broke down – included threatening to stab and burn her, after setting up 35 fake social media accounts to send thousands of Twitter and Instagram messages.
A court had earlier been told that Davies sent a death threat to Minchin and highlighted her home address.
He later sent threatening comments to her social media account, including one which said: ‘Your daughter will be raped.’
The presenter – who lived in a ‘constant state of anxiety’ during her ordeal – had previously won her fight to keep her name a secret until the Crown Court trial began, but this restriction was later lifted.
Carl Davies, 44, was due to face trial at Caernarfon Crown Court today for stalking presenter Minchin and her adult daughter Mia by posting intimidating comments on their Instagram accounts, before changing his plea to guilty today
Broadcaster Louise Minchin (pictured on her last day at BBC Breakfast after 20 years last month), and her daughter Mia, received intimidating messages on their Instagram accounts
The 44-year-old was handed a lifetime restraining order in 2017 for threatening to stab and burn Girls Aloud star Nicola Roberts (pictured together) after setting up 35 fake social media accounts to send thousands of Twitter and Instagram messages
Judge Nicola Saffman said today: ‘This is a repeat offence and the content of messages which was sent was extremely alarming, very serious, very intimidating and clearly was intended to maximise the distress of the complainants in this case.’
She adjourned sentencing for a psychiatric report to be prepared on the former soldier, who claims to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
She added: ‘I need this to be very clear for Mr Davies that the most likely outcome will be a sentence of immediate imprisonment.’
The court heard the offences took place between July 14 and 17 last year, during the operational period of his suspended sentence.
Duncan Bould, defending Davies, said he sustained PTSD while serving with the armed forces in Iraq.
He said Davies, who attended court with his father, had continued to work in Iraq as a close protection officer after leaving the forces and had very little treatment for the condition.
He said: ‘He has, it seems, heavily self-medicated, using largely alcohol as medication.
‘It seems it is in that context these offences were committed.’
Davies, of Queens Avenue, had initially pleaded not guilty to the two offences of stalking, causing serious alarm or distress, because he could not recognise the behaviour and now believed it must have been done when he was heavily intoxicated
Mr Bould said Davies, of Queens Avenue, had initially pleaded not guilty to the two offences of stalking, causing serious alarm or distress, because he could not recognise the behaviour and now believed it must have been done when he was heavily intoxicated.
Davies was granted bail, with conditions including not to contact Minchin or her daughter, until his sentencing on December 15.
The 44-year-old was handed a lifetime restraining order in 2017 for threatening to stab and burn Ms Roberts after setting up 35 fake social media accounts to send thousands of Twitter and Instagram messages.
He targeted the 33-year-old pop-star over four years after their relationship broke down.
Ms Roberts never replied to any of the messages but meticulously copied every message which she handed over to police.
