Brighton teenager Zaine Reid, 18, has been sentenced to 24 weeks in prison, suspended for 24 months, after making violent threats towards two 18-year-old women. Reid, who lives in Sussex Terrace in Brighton, sent text messages to the women between 6 December and 27 December last year, threatening to kill them, pay people to harm them, and petrol bomb their homes.
Police officers visited Reid’s address on 27 December, where he resisted arrest and assaulted two officers. Reid was subsequently charged with two counts of malicious communications, two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, one count of harassment with fear of violence, and one count of causing actual bodily harm.
During his trial at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 24 February, Reid was found guilty of both counts of assaulting an emergency worker and pleaded guilty to both counts of malicious communications and harassment. However, he was found not guilty of causing actual bodily harm.
At his sentencing hearing on 10 March, Reid was given a suspended prison sentence of 24 weeks for the malicious communications and harassment charges, and four weeks in prison for assaulting emergency workers. In addition, he was given a three-year restraining order.
Following the sentencing, PC Philip Peck commended the two women for their bravery in supporting the investigation. He also condemned Reid’s actions, stating that he had subjected the women to “terrifying threats” and that the two police officers who attempted to arrest him had been assaulted while carrying out their duties.
