Musician Warner Newman, 37, who teamed up with UK charity Women’s Aid when releasing single ‘Runaway’ dismissed the young victim from his trendy plant-based vegan cafe in Brixton, south London.
Croydon Magistrates Court heard she was critical in an online review of Blank Brixton, prompting New Zealander Newman to bombard her with 48 phone messages in one day.
The father-of-three, of Acre Lane, Brixton pleaded guilty to communicating a threatening message to Stephanie Scharfer on September 13, last year and harassing her with multiple text and phone messages on September 12.
The victim now fears leaving her home alone and looking at phone messages and has installed security cameras at her address.
Prosecutor Mrs Nwanneka Ike told the court: “The complainant was an employee of Mr Newman for a short period of time.
“She was asked to stop her employment and states she received fifteen messages and two video calls from Mr Newman.”
The defendant claims she was sacked for making an inappropriate comment to his Afro-Caribbean wife at the height of last year’s Black Lives Matter protests.
“The reason for his messages was she posted a review about her former employers online and described the working conditions as unfriendly and poor,” explained Mrs Ike.
“In response to her posts Mr Newman made the calls and she asked him to stop, but she received further messages and calls from him, a total of forty-eight.”
Newman left a final voice note, which he was able to delete immediately after Ms Scharfer listened to it, in which he said: “One more thing. “When I find you and my people find you, I’m going to slit your throat.”
Fortunately the victim recorded the message before Newman deleted it.
He followed up the voice note with a text of a smiley face, wearing sunglasses.
In her victim impact statement Ms Scharfer said: “This has brought me great concern for my personal safety.
“I don’t know what Mr Newman is capable of or who he knows. I am scared.
“I feel personally attacked and harassed whenever I get a message on my phone and I dod not expect to get a message on my phone threatening to slit my throat.
“I cannot leave home alone in fear of Mr Newman following me and I have installed cameras at my own expense at my front door.”
Newman’s lawyer Mr John Briant told the court: “He has a wife and three children. He is a family man and bought a building in Brixton and converted it into a cafe.
“He has been building up the business for three years and has employees who have been with him for a number of years and it feels like a family.
“There were some difficulties with the complainant, who was on a work trial and there was a negative online review about the cafe.
“Having gone through lockdowns and the pressures of work and trying to support his family in difficult circumstances he admits he totally over reacted.
“He accepts he should not have sent the voice recording and accepts there was an impact on her.
“This course of conduct lasted less than twenty-four hours and as soon as the threatening message was sent, it was delated.”
Suggesting Newman was simply erasing evidence magistrate Mr Daniel Willis said: “That’s one interpretation.”
“There has been no further contact,” added Mr Briant. “There will be no further contact.
“He has started counselling to deal with his reactions and behaviour. Art is ongoing to deal with these issues.
“He had not thought things through and had an emotional response to the effect this would have on his business and his family being at risk.”
Newman, who has a conviction for battery, was sentenced to a twelve-month Community Order, which includes a ten-day designated activity requirement and up to thirty days of the Probation Service’s thinking skills programme.
He must pay £200 compensation to Ms Scharfer, plus £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.
Newman was also made subject to a two-year Restraining Order, prohibiting contact with the victim.
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