Harry Gibson, 42, of Lewisham High Street, narrowly escaped jail on Monday (March 2) after damaging a family home and threatening arson.
Threats and Damage at Family Home
Prosecutor Edmund Blackman revealed that Gibson sent alarming messages to his brother-in-law, warning he planned to torch his parents’ house. On December 4 last year, Gibson took violent action, punching the front door window of their home. He was arrested the very same day.
“He admitted to police he was lashing out at his parents and claimed nobody would believe he’d actually carry out the arson,” Blackman said.
Mental Health and Suspended Sentence
The former museum and child support worker pleaded guilty to criminal damage. The court heard Gibson was off his mental health medication during the incident.
Judge Ben Gumpert handed down a two-month jail term, suspended for six months, and imposed a one-month electronically monitored curfew.
“When you feel wrong or aggrieved, you behave in a violent way,” the judge told Gibson.
“Let me not see you here again, you know what will happen.”
