A 30-YEAR-OLD Accrington woman harassed the person she saw as a love rival through social media, by telephone and then in person within the space of one night.

Blackburn magistrates heard that during a telephone rant Catherine Elizabeth Howson threatened to kill the other woman and rip her head off.

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And when she turned up at her home, hammering on the door, the victim’s youngest child was woken and came downstairs saying she was scared.

Howson, of Walter Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to harassing Carmella Davenport.

She was made subject to a curfew, and must follow certain conditions between 9pm and 6am for eight weeks, and she was also ordered to pay £60 compensation.

She was also made subject to a restraining order which prohibits her from having any contact with Miss Davenport or approaching within 20 metres of her home.

The court heard that Howson admitted that on the day in question she had lost her temper. But she also said she regretted the incident and wanted to apologise for her behaviour. Alex Mann, prosecuting, said Miss Davenport had previously been in a relationship with a man called Glen Bowers, who was Howson’s current partner.

Police had already previously given Howson a verbal warning about her behaviour towards Miss Davenport.

On the night of the incident Miss Davenport saw a message on the social networking website Facebook from Howson saying: “Are you back with Glen?”

Miss Davenport phoned Glen and asked why Howson was sending her messages again and he said he would speak to her.

“Within a couple of minutes Howson rang back and she was screaming at Miss Davenport asking why she had phoned him,” said Mrs Mann.

“Minutes after that Howson was outside her home screaming and shouting and banging on the door.”

Mrs Mann said Miss Davenport felt that she was being dragged into something that didn’t involve her.

“It distressed her that this incident happened in front of her children,” said Mrs Mann.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said the problems resolved around the fact that both women had been involved in a relationship with the same man at different times. My client is no longer involved with him and she wishes she had never bothered,” said Mr Taylor. “She wants to move on.

“On the night of the incident in question she lost her temper and she apologises for that.”