A SANDWICH shop worker who breached a restraining order by sending his ex-girlfriend offensive Snapchat video messages abusing her disabled brother has been jailed.

Preston Crown Court heard how Declan Thomas Hawthornthwaite, 26, sent the messages to Caitlin McGarr from a friend’s mobile phone while drunk.

The court heard that by breaching the restraining order Hawthornthwaite had broken the terms of a suspended sentence imposed last year after he had trashed Ms McGarr’s flat and thrown bleach in her face.

For that he was given a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for two years and Judge Mr Recorder David Swinnerton decided to activate that.

Prosecutor Hanifa Patel told the court how Hawthornthwaite, formerly of Park Road, Darwen and now of no fixed address, had sent his ex-partner 13 messages on Snapchat, some being abusive towards her and other mocking her brother’s disability.

That was on July 26 and when he was arrested and interviewed by police Hawthornthwaite, who works in a Subway sandwich shop in Blackburn town centre, said he had no recollection of recording the clips and blamed another woman for sending them, the court heard.

Recorder David Swinnerton said: “On July 26 last year you recorded a series of short video clips which you sent to Caitlin McGarr.

“The messages were deeply offensive.

“You were rude and offensive about her disabled brother.

“I don’t know what you thought he did to deserve that.

“You were also abusive about her.

“You were even threatening about her at one point.

“I don’t know whether you found it funny but I can tell you it certainly wasn’t.

“It certainly wouldn’t have been to Caitlin McGarr. Those sorts of messages were clearly to frighten and upset her. “

Hawthornthwaite was jailed for a total of seven months and warned the restraining order, banning him from directly or indirectly contacting Ms McGarr, remains in force until February 2021.

Richard Prew, defending, said his client had been ‘sofa hopping’ during the time of sending the messages and was drunk at the messages were sent.

Mr Prew said: “He realises the seriousness of the situation.

“He is thoroughly ashamed by his behaviour and has shown some remorse.”