Restraining order for ex-Royal Marine who harrassed Bristol woman with ‘horrible’ text messages

A former Royal Marine has been slapped with a restraining order after sending dozens of vile text messages to a woman which pushed her to ‘the darkest places mentally’ and rendered her terrified to leave the house.

Daniel Mullins also received a 24-month community order after pleading guilty to harrassment without violence at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (June 15).

The court heard that Mullins, of All Hallows Road in Easton, had attended a family gathering in October last year during which he felt the victim was trying to turn other relatives against him.

The 37-year-old left the gathering and drank heavily before sending the victim ‘horrible’ text messages and voicemails over a 14 hour period.

In a statement read aloud to the court, the victim said the messages had pushed her ‘to the darkest places mentally’ and that she had been prescribed anti-anxiety medication as she was too scared to go outside.

Mullins’ defence solicitor said his client had woken up the morning after sending the messages feeling ‘a great deal of shame’.

He told the court that Mullins, who had previously served in the Royal Marines, had suffered a breakdown after an accident that had a ‘long lasting effect’.

He had been homeless at one point and been diagnosed with depression, anxiety and PTSD.

District Judge Lynn Matthews sentenced Mullins to a community order lasting 24 months, along with a nine month alcohol treatment requirement.

A restraining order fordbidding him to contact the victim or travel to the road on which she lives was also imposed for a total of five years.

He must also pay court costs of £85.