Matthew Turley guilty harassing former boss in East Grinstead

Matthew Turley threatened his former boss Marc Greig in East Grinstead.

The 41-year-old grabbed Mr Greig by the throat, and told him: “You are lucky people have not visited you in the night and gang raped you.”

Separately, he threatened neighbour Sarah Jacomb who had witnessed some of the abuse.

At Hove Crown Court Turley appeared for sentencing after he was found guilty of harassment and witness intimidation at a magistrates’ court trial.

His Honour Judge Jeremy Gold QC jailed him for one year.

Victoria Lovett, prosecuting, said the abuse and threats started in May last year, with incidents outside MPG Group Maintenance Ltd, run by Mr Greig, at a property in Chequer Road.

The case is being heard at Hove Crown Court

She said: “Mr Greig had employed him as a carpenter for three years but released him from his employment due to complaints over poor workmanship and his behaviour towards Mr Greig.

“The defendant said ‘I’m going to stab you, I’m going to burn your house down and Bambi House down’.”

During the month-long campaign, Mr Turley said: “I f****** know where you and your family live.”

Mr Greig said he had spent £3,000 on security over his fears. He said his staff members were afraid to work at his premises alone.

“They were too scared of Matt,” he said. “I didn’t want my staff to suffer the onslaught from him.

“He threatened to gang rape me in my sleep, so I now sleep with a hammer by my bed.”

To Sarah Jacomb, who had witnessed the intimidating behaviour, Turley made gestures through his window slitting his throat towards her.

She found there was a time when her car tyres were slashed, and said she took the gesture as a “genuine threat”.

Ms Jacomb said she had made a witness statement to be a good citizen, but felt she had to withdraw it because she did not feel safe.

Chloe Hucker, defending, said her client feels “broken” and said the offences were out of character.

Matthew Turley was jailed for a campaign of harassment and witness intimidation in East Grinstead

She said character references showed another side to Turley, who was in fact an “honourable” man, hard-working, honest, and a “respectful, helpful and reliable member of the community”.

He had suffered a heart attack in the lead up to the incidents, while his partner has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

But the judge said Turley, of Queens Road, East Grinstead, has not shown remorse.

Judge Gold said: “You have robustly, throughout, denied these charges and continued to deny them to the probation officer.

“That is a matter of concern, you have blown your chance of a suspended sentence entirely through your own actions.”

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