Teen who threatened to blow up girlfriend's house put lit firework in letterbox

A teenager who threatened to ‘blow up’ his girlfriend’s house put a lit firework threw her letterbox. Smoke was seen coming from the pyrotechnic after 18-year-old Alby Hough tried to make

good on his promise. Teesside Crown Court heard he chided his former partner in chilling message afterwards by saying: ‘Didn’t I tell you what would happen?’ The court was told the pair had

an ‘on-off' relationship that had been good at the start but soured when she suspected him of cheating on her with other girls. Jenny Haigh, prosecuting, said he had made the threat to

blow up her house after an argument last November but she had not taken it seriously. Ms Haigh said: “She heard a bang and saw lots of smoke coming up the stairs. The defendant had thrown a

lit firework through the letterbox.” The incident happened on November 9, but eight days earlier Hough had also assaulted his girlfriend after an argument flared and he took her phone from

her. Ms Haigh said: “The next thing she recalls is a sharp pain in the chest. She said the defendant punched her three times with a closed fist. She was crying in pain and struggling to

breathe.” The court was told Hough then rang his mother and lied by saying she had assaulted him. After the phone call, the court heard, Hough turned to his victim and said: “I have never

hit you that hard, don’t mess with me.” The court was told the offences were carried out when Hough, of Durham Road, Stockton, was on bail for carrying a police baton on October 11. Hough

pleaded guilty to carrying an offensive weapon, assault and arson with intent or recklessness as to endanger life. The court was told he had no previous convictions. His barrister, Rod Hunt,

said he been in custody on remand since the arson and had spent his 18th birthday behind bars. Recorder Mark McKone sentenced Hough to a two-year community order. He said: “You made threats

and threw a lit firework through a letterbox. People could have been killed with you doing that. Fortunately, no-one was injured and no damage was caused.” Hough will have to complete 25

days rehabilitation with the Probation Service and is subject to 120 days of alcohol abstinence with a monitoring requirement for six months. He is also subject to a restraining order for

five years. The judge said: “If you reoffend in the next two years or breach the terms of this order you can be re-sentenced and it is very likely you will have to go back to custody. You

have been punished to a large extent by your time in custody. “If you are abusive to girlfriends in the future you can expect a long custodial sentence.” FOR DAILY NEWS FROM TEESSIDE'S

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