A MAN who tried to get a woman to withdraw a criminal complaint against him has been remanded in custody by a judge.

Clive Holloway pleaded guilty to a charge of perverting the course of justice when he appeared at Swindon Crown Court.

The 49-year-old, who also uses the surname Hayward, admitted making contact with the woman, from Swindon, in February.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told the court he sent two letters by special delivery which were ‘threatening and intimidating in their tone’. He said the defendant was being investigated for other offences and a decision had yet to be made about whether to charge him.

Chris Smyth, defending, said his client, of Cromwell Road, Devizes, had no previous convictions and had been in custody for four weeks.

He said the father-of-three had pleaded guilty on the basis the letters were not meant to be threatening and intimidating.

Mr Smyth asked for the court to grant him bail saying he could go and live with his mother in Devizes, away from the victim.

Judge Philip Wassall said: “Whatever you intended these letters had a threatening overtone. That is how they would have been perceived.”

He said the offence was so serious that a custodial sentence would be likely and it also suggested he may not co-operate if granted bail. The judge remanded him in custody to Friday April 11 when it is hoped a decision will have been made about the other matters.