A CHESTER man who spent months harassing his twin sister by bombarding her with malicious texts, voicemails and calls has been spared immediate jail.

David Anthony Perry, 42, of Western Avenue, had previously pleaded guilty on the day his trial was due to begin to harassing his twin sister Ellen Perry between June and July 2020.

At Chester Magistrates Court on Friday, February 12, Perry was banned from contacting her in any way for 12 months via a restraining order, and handed a 12-week prison sentence which was suspended for 12 months.

Prosecuting, Alan Currums said the victim had described the relationship between the pair as "rocky", and had deteriorated in recent years due to the defendant's heavy drinking and suspected substance misuse.

The court heard Perry had repeatedly contacted his sister asking for money, and getting abusive and emotionally manipulative when she refused, as she believed he would spend the money on alcohol and drugs.

Perry repeatedly threatened to harm himself and said he would be his sister's fault.

On one occasion, the sister received a call from Perry and he was shouting, and it sounded like he was "trashing" his house at the time.

Despite blocking his number, Perry continued to contact her through 'number withheld' messages and voicemails, where he "sounded heavily intoxicated or under the influence".

The messages made the victim feel "physically sick, threatened and scared", and unable to look at her phone.

She also felt scared for her and her family's safety as the defendant had turned up at her house in the past.

She had asked him on numerous occasions to stop contact, but he had refused, the court heard.

Despite the events, Ms Perry wished for her brother not to receive a custodial sentence, but for him to get help, and for any proposed restraining order to be kept short.

The defendant had previous convictions, including breaching of a non-molestation order and breach of a suspended sentence in 2019, for which he was jailed.

Defending, Steve Coupe said the defendant had undergone a "degree of chaos and instability", through substance misuse and not taking his medication, which meant his mental health was suffering and had led him to behave "in a quite appalling way" to someone who had been the closest person in his life.

He was isolated and vulnerable to other people who had used his property.

The pre-sentence report said Perry had been co-operating with the Aqua House service voluntarily and was on medication.

Chair of magistrates Jean Banford told Perry: "You have obviously given your twin sister a long period of suffering. She is not your mum, she is your sister."

She ordered Perry pay her twin sister £300 compensation "for all this malarkey", along with £500 prosecution costs and a £128 victim surcharge.

As well as the suspended sentence, Perry must complete 20 days of a rehabilitation activity requirement.