A MAN has appeared in court after threatening a “school bully”.

Mark Marchant, 39, “saw red” after finding out one child had started self harming, allegedly after being bullied by another, a 12-year-old boy.

Marchant decided to intervene himself, claiming the school was ignoring the problem.

Lucy Miller, prosecuting, said: “The 12-year-old victim received a telephone call but did not know the number.

“The same day there were 27 calls.

“Then he received calls from Mark Marchant’s number.”

Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday the alleged school bully became upset and refused to go to school.

Marchant, of Meadow Way, Jaywick, also went to his house and had a row through the door with the boy.

The court heard on one occasion, January 9, Marchant sent two threatening voicemails to the child’s phone.

Marchant admitted sending a communication with a threatening message which conveyed a threat for the purpose of causing distress to the recipient.

His victim is not just 12-years-old but is also autistic.

Mrs Miller told the court the victim’s mother has seen the whole episode have a negative impact on her son.

Gareth Hunter, mitigating, said: “Tempers have been lost. He saw red and lost it. It was a moment of madness he deeply regrets.”

Mr Hunter told the court it all began when the victim allegedly began bullying another child.

It is claimed he sent abusive “bullying” messages which had a deep impact on another child.

This child started self harming and was struggling to cope.

Mr Hunter claimed Marchant found out what had been happening and did not handle it well.

He said: “He realises he should not have been shouting and leaving abusive messages to a 12-year-old child.

“He is remorseful. He should not have done it.

“He believed this child had been bullying, the school had not been helping, his parents had not been helping.”

Marchant was sentenced to a 12 month community order with 60 hours unpaid work, a thinking skills programme, ten rehabilitation activity requirement days and £170 in costs and charges.

No reporting restrictions were placed on the case but the Gazette has chosen not to identify the victim in the case, the other child or the school involved.