A COURT has heard how a man was in the throes of a mental health crisis when he harassed three women by email and threatened to burn down a university.

Joseph Bissell avoided an immediate prison sentence after he was said to need support rather than jail after pleading guilty to three counts of breaching a stalking protection order and threatening to damage property.

Bradford Crown Court heard how the 27-year-old, who lives in supported accommodation in Manchester, was resident in Bradford when he contacted three women after previously being banned from doing so.

He was said to have sent the emails in an attempt to be returned to custody as he believed it was “a good place” for him.

The two-year stalking protection order was made by Bristol Magistrates’ Court in August 2022 and prohibited Bissell from contacting three women that he met whilst studying at the University of the West of England (UWE).

Prosecutor Gareth Henderson-Moore said that Bissell suffered mental health problems whilst at UWE and was supported by one of the women he befriended.

However, when she rebuffed his attempts at starting a relationship “he began a course of conduct that was not welcomed by her” and constituted harassment.

He began contacting colleagues of the woman and police issued a warning when his behaviour escalated, which culminated in the making of the stalking protection order.

He was arrested and prosecuted in September 2022, receiving a custodial sentence but on being released made further contact with the victim.

He was arrested and prosecuted again in March 2023 but wrote letters to the police threatening to kill the victim and burn down the university.

The court heard that Bissell breached the order again in December 2023 by sending more emails to the three women whilst accommodated at Blankney Grange in Wyke.

Mr Henderson-Moore said: “The emails by their nature contained threats of suicide and threats to burn down the university.

“These contacts seem to be for the purpose of remaining in a custodial setting rather than any directed wish to hurt anybody else or damage anybody else, or any property.

“It’s quite clear that the defendant has an aim to remain in custody, and this is likely due to his poor mental wellbeing.”

Mitigating, Clare Walsh said Bissell’s offences seemed to have been committed “at a point of mental health crisis” and that whilst he had previously been imprisoned “what this defendant requires is support.”

Her Honour Judge Kirstie Watson handed Bissell a 12-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months, ordered him to undertake 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days to address his thinking skills, and said he must abide by a six-month GPS trail monitoring order.