A judge condemned an “eight stone ringing wet” defendant for “playing the hardman” in TikTok live streams. Lee Fountain was branded “pathetic” for targeting a man with abuse on the social media platform as well as people at Longbridge Methodist Church.
The 34-year-old, from Handsworth, pleaded guilty to a charge of sending threatening communication but was spared an immediate prison sentence at Birmingham Crown Court. The offence stated that on December 15 Fountain sent a message that “conveyed a threat of serious harm, namely the suspect has threatened the victim via TikTok Live, stating he will pay £100 to someone that will attend the location to cause harm to people”.
The charges adds: “Intending, or being reckless at to whether, an individual encountering the message would fear the threat would be carried out.”
Pierre de Garis, defending Fountain, said he acted out of “impulsivity and spontaneity”. He argued Fountain sent the live streams out of “despair” and a “cry for help”.
But Judge Peter Cooke, passing sentence on Tuesday, October 13, interjected and said: “There is something rather pathetic about someone my mother would have described as ‘eight stone ringing wet’ trying to play the hardman.
“Talking about himself as though he’s a member of some dangerous crime family. It’s nonsense. It’s posturing.”
Continuing his mitigation Mr de Garis told the court Fountain had spent a long time in care during his childhood and did not have a formal education.
The barrister highlighted that he had not offended since and had ambitions to get a job in a theme park.
Mr de Garis added: “He is a man who has very little in every single sense; friendships and social support, he has no immediate family.
“He has a partner. All they have is each other.”
Fountain was sentenced to six months, suspended for two years, with probation requirements and 120 hours of unpaid work.
He was banned from contacting the victim and attending Longbridge Methodist Church under a five-year restraining order.
Judge Cooke told him: “This was in many respects – I don’t accept it was a cry for help – but I think your life’s challenges had left you perhaps less able than many people to deal appropriately with conflict situations, clashes of personality and simply just not getting on with other people.
“Your grievance against (the victim), you let it get completely out of proportion and disgraced yourself in the way you behaved.”