Man jailed for terrifying ‘campaign of hate’ against ex-partner and her family
A man who carried out a campaign of hate against his ex-partner and her family has been jailed for four years at Lincoln Crown Court. William Gray targeted the family of Lauren Cousins after the couple’s relationship came to an end. Gray attacked Ms Cousins’ grandfather while he was fishing leaving him in fear for…
William Morris Gray has been jailed for four years
A man who carried out a campaign of hate against his ex-partner and her family has been jailed for four years at Lincoln Crown Court.
William Gray targeted the family of Lauren Cousins after the couple’s relationship came to an end.
Gray attacked Ms Cousins’ grandfather while he was fishing leaving him in fear for his life after three times pushing him into a waterway.
Gray, who was already under a restraining order not to contact Ms Cousins because of a previous incident, left 70-year-old John Cousins terrified that he was about to be drowned.
Three weeks later Gray deliberately rammed his car into Ms Cousins’ vehicle injuring a teenaged passenger and badly damaging her car.
Phil Howes, prosecuting on Friday, December 16, said: “This was following the break-up of a six year relationship the defendant had with Lauren Cousins. These offences reflect a continued campaign of hate against his ex and her family.”
Mr Howes said that Gray approached John Cousins as the pensioner was packing his belongings after a day’s fishing at Whaplode St Catherines.
Gray made threats and then grabbed Mr Cousins by the collar and pushed him into the water saying “I’ll drown you”.
Gray used a crowbar to smash the windscreen of Mr Cousins’ car and pushed him twice more into the water.
Mr Howes said: “The grandfather was left feeling terrified. He said he had never been so frightened in his life.”
Gray later texted Ms Cousins in breach of a restraining order not to contact her before a further incident on September 25 when Lauren Cousins was in her car outside her home in Holbeach St Johns.
Mr Howes said that Gray drew up alongside the vehicle before reaching out of his window and smashing the windscreen of he ex’s car.
The prosecutor said: “The defendant drove off but then turned round. He then drove down the road and rammed Lauren Cousins’ car.”
A 13-year-old passenger in the vehicle suffered an eye injury as a result of the collision.
Gray then disappeared before being arrested in the Nottingham area on November 8.
Gray, 24, formerly of Sutton St James but currently of no fixed address, admitted charges of threatening to kill Mr Cousins and damaging his car on September 4.
He also admitted breach of his restraining order by contacting Lauren Cousins on September 17 together with charges of dangerous driving, criminal damage and a further breach of the restraining order following the incident at Holbeach St Johns on September 25.
In addition to being jailed he was banned from driving for three years which will commence when he is released from his jail sentence.
Judge Michael Heath imposed an indefinite restraining order banning Gray from contacting John Cousins.
An earlier restraining order banning Gray from contacting Lauren Cousins is to continue.
James Gray, in mitigation, told the court: “He was in a relationship with Lauren Cousins and there were no similar complaints during the years they were in that relationship.
“He accepts his behaviour was wholly unacceptable and inappropriate but it is the consequence of an immature young man reacting to his frustration.”
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A local man was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and dangerous driving after two pedestrians were injured in a collision with a car and three parked vehicles in Skegness.
Lincolnshire Police officers attended the scene after the collision between a blue Citroen Berlingo, the parked vehicles, and a man and a woman, who are both in their 60s, on Winthorpe Avenue shortly before 7pm on Friday, April 16.
The two pedestrians suffered serious injuries and were taken to hospital. However, their injuries are not thought to be life threatening.
A 63-year-old local man, who was driving the Berlingo, was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and dangerous driving. He has since been released under investigation.
Police are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage and anyone with information should contact them on 101 or via email at [email protected] quoting incident number 389 of April 16.
Few people attended the second Kill the Bill protest in Lincoln on Saturday, as Extinction Rebellion activists stood alone on the High Street to campaign against a proposed policing bill that could make many protests illegal.
Activists from Extinction Rebellion Lincolnshire gathered at Speakers’ Corner to oppose plans for the latest Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which could curtail protesting rights if passed through parliament.
Extinction Rebellion were the main representatives at the protest. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Under the proposed bill, police officers will be given greater powers to put a stop to any protests, as well as determining start and finish times for them, and controlling noise levels.
A few stopped to talk with the protestors, but most just went about their day walking down Lincoln High Street in the first weekend that non-essential shops and beer gardens reopened.
The Lincolnite spoke to one of the rebels at the protest, to find out the reasons behind the march.
They said: “This draconian bill cannot go ahead, it needs to be taken apart and re-evaluted completely.
“People have been walking past us shaking their heads, but they don’t realise that it’s their freedom we are fighting for.”
The Lincolnite photographer Steve Smailes captured some pictures from the protest.
Signs were put up by the works at Speakers’ Corner on Lincoln High Street. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
A 19-year-old man is in hospital with serious injuries after a crash on the A52 on Friday evening.
The single-vehicle crash, involving a white Suzuki Splash, happened in the westbound lane of the A52 between Barrowby and Sedgebrook at around 7.20pm on Friday, April 16.
The driver of the car is now in hospital after suffering serious injuries, and police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.
Officers believe the driver had travelled from Grantham on the A52 at Barrowby before the crash.
Anyone who has dashcam footage or saw the vehicle before the incident is being asked to call 101, quoting incident 420 of April 16.
Alternatively, you can email [email protected], using the same reference in the subject box.
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