A WOMAN left threatening messages on her former carer’s answerphone, leaving her victim terrified.

Winchester Crown Court heard that Kimberley Spicer, who lives in Byways Care Home, in High Street, Odiham, was once extremely close to carer Jean Bates, who she lived with.

Prosecuting, Louise Howard said that Spicer referred to Mrs Bates as ‘Mum’ when she first moved in with her three-and-a-half years ago.

She said: “Their relationship was close until August 29 last year when Mrs Bates’ six-year-old grandson was visiting. There was an argument between him and Miss Spicer.”

Miss Howard told the court that Spicer, 41, moved out in December last year but in January went to Mrs Bates’ home address and behaved in a disorderly way, damaging her car.

There was no further trouble until April 13, when Spicer got a landline and, said Miss Howard, proceeded to make “in excess of 20 calls, the majority of them between midnight and 3am” over the course of four days to Mrs Bates.

She left messages on her answerphone, which Mrs Bates passed to the police.

Spicer, who has Down’s syndrome, sobbed in the dock as details of these messages were read out by Miss Howard, who said: “They included threats to kill Mrs Bates and her family members, saying she would do it with a knife.”

She said that Mrs Bates, who is only 4ft 9ins, was scared by the calls and “genuinely believed she (Spicer) could cause her some serious damage.”

Defending Spicer, Phillip Rule said the whole incident and court proceedings had been “extremely distressing” for his client.

He said: “She always lived with her father before living with the woman she called ‘Mum’ (Mrs Bates). Then moving to live on her own – it was a difficult time.”

Sentencing Spicer, Judge Advocate General Robert Hill said he was taking into account her previous good character and her plea of guilty to a charge of making threats to kill.

He handed her a 12-month conditional discharge, saying: “I hope you have learned your lesson.”