A Slough man has been spared jail after telling his children their mother should ‘drop dead’ in a ‘stupid’ WhatsApp message.

Jordon Scott, of Wordsworth Road, was banned from contacting his former partner after being convicted of a violent act against her in 2020.

This meant he was forbidden from contacting the woman even indirectly until 2025.

However, in a group chat with his three children, who were aged between 11-15 at the time of the offence in April 2021, Scott said the woman should ‘drop dead’ after complaining he did not get to see his children often enough.

John Lloyd-Richards, prosecuting, said one of the children told their mother about the message and it was was reported to police.

As Scott had contacted the woman indirectly, he admitted to breaching his restraining order.

Reading Crown Court heard how Scott, 39, was an ‘involved’ father who stayed at his former partner’s house even after they had separated in order to take the children to school and to activities.

With 14 previous convictions for 27 offences, Scott’s defence advocate argued his client should be spared prison to allow him to rehabilitate.

His Honour Judge Nawaz, sentencing, chose to spare Scott prison despite lamenting him for the ‘stupidity’ of his message.

He told him: “You need to recognise that you need to move on with your life in a way that is going to be constructive for you and your children.”

Scott was handed an 18-month community order and told to take part in 30 rehabilitation activity days as well as to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.

Appearing at Reading Crown Court on Friday, July 1, Scott thanked the judge for his help as he left court.