A Swindon man has pleaded guilty to trying to intimidate a witness into withdrawing a complaint 20 minutes after being released from custody.

Joseph Webb, 30, of Stratton St Margaret appeared at Swindon Magistrates Court on Monday, October 14 after spending Sunday night in custody for intimidating a witness in civil proceedings.

On Sunday morning Webb was arrested following allegations of a serious nature and interviewed on Sunday afternoon, where he denied the offence and was later released at 8 pm under strict bail conditions.

By 8:20pm, he was back at the address officers had told him not to attend and the woman who had made the complaint about him was woken up by Webb standing at the end of the bed calling her a “f**king monster”, while children were present in the bed.

She ignored him by hiding under the covers and texting a friend, while Webb was packing a bag and continued to shout abuse at her, claiming she was lying and “delusional” and had “made it up in her head”, demanding her to drop the charges against him.

Read More: Doorman 'left disfigured in violent attack from drunk' at pub

Meanwhile, the friend she had texted contacted the police after trying to ring her and not getting an answer and the police entered through an unlocked side door, which is how they believe Webb accessed the property.

Webb instructed her to tell the officers he was not there and she went along with it at first, but then she whispered to officers to let them know he was hiding in a bedroom upstairs.

In mitigation, Mr Hotson, defending, said Webb accepts he went to the property, but he said it was to collect some of his things, although he accepts there was an exchange between them where some of the comments were made.

He added that Webb did not have any convictions as an adult and was generally a “man of good character.”

Read More: Swindon man 'gets life back' from hospital after seizure in supermarket

The Magistrate decided to send the case to Swindon Crown Court for a hearing on November 15.

She did not grant Webb bail and he will be remanded in custody until the hearing.

Help support trusted local news

Sign up for a digital subscription now: https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/subscribe/

As a digital subscriber, you will get:            

  • Unlimited access to the Swindon Advertiser website        
  • Advert-light access             
  • Reader rewards             
  • Full access to our app