Employer Martyn Crute has been handed a restraining order by Lincoln Magistrates Court, Lincolnshire, for sending threatening texts and voicemails to a former plumbing employee.

Crute, 48, of Woodlands, Retford, admitted harassing David Farley, who he had employed as a manager at his heating and plumbing business between 2005 to 2008.

The court heard that Crute threatened to "flog Mr Farley to death" and "sort him out".

In mitigation, magistrates were told Crute regretted his behaviour and believed that Mr Farley had been attempting to undermine him. Magistrates fined Crute £450 and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a victims' surcharge of £15.

The court also imposed a one-year restraining order against Farley.