A father-of-four from the Midlands has been sentenced to nine-and-a-half years in prison after he threatened to set fire to his former partner's home, a court has heard.
Awful Secret Uncovered Leads to Threats
Daniel Tyrone Hemmings, 34, of Birmingham, was jailed at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court after his ex-girlfriend ended their relationship upon discovering his status as a registered sex offender. The court was told that Hemmings then launched a campaign of harassment and torment against her.
In a series of threatening messages and calls, Hemmings told the woman: "I will set fire to your f****** house with you and your son in it." The victim felt so unsafe that she sent her young son to live with a relative, fearing Hemmings would carry out his threat to burn down their home.
Boasts About Disturbing Crimes
During his communications, Hemmings brazenly revealed the nature of his previous convictions and his disturbing proclivities. He confessed to the woman that he gained sexual gratification from the rape of children, stating: "I get off on little kids, little girls rape is what I get off on."
Hemmings had a previous conviction from 2017 for sexual activity with a child under 16. He was also convicted of rape in 2021 against a different woman, which led to his placement on the sex offenders register.
Sentence and Judge's Condemnation
Hemmings received his substantial prison term after admitting to charges of harassment without violence, sending communications threatening death and serious harm, stalking involving serious harm and distress, and failing to comply with sex offender register requirements.
Judge Sally Hancox told Hemmings he was a man with "no thought for women" and that his actions had profoundly affected the lives of his victims. He was also handed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and remains on the sex offenders register.
The victim had expressed concern that Hemmings was initially granted bail by the court despite the serious threats he had made against her and her child's life.
