Footballer’s brother jailed after terrorising own family with chilling rape threats & attacking sibling with paving slab
A FOOTBALLER’S brother has been jailed after terrorising his own family with chilling rape threats.
Dane May carried out a relentless campaign of harassment against his two siblings and their mum over 18 months.
The nightmare ordeal culminated in a terrifying bid to attack one of his brothers with a paving slab after smashing his way into his home.
His vendetta was terrifying that his mum was forced to move house for her safety.
May’s youngest brother – Huddersfield Town striker Alfie May – was forced to install high-tech security at his home and worked out “escape plans” with his wife.
The stalker has now been handed a ten-and-a-half year extended sentence after he was convicted of three offences of stalking from November 2023.
He was also found guilty of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent over the attack on sibling Sam in April last year.
Maidstone Crown Court heard May had inherited £120,000 from his late father at the end of 2023, which he spent on drugs.
After a “dispute” broke out over the division of assets from the estate, May began the stalking campaign.
In one particularly sinister message sent to his oldest sibling Sam May, he warned: “I always said you would see me on the news and on the front page of every newspaper for what I would do to prove how f***ed up I really am.”
He also flew a drone over Sam’s home to prove he was in and rammed a Ford Ranger into the front security gates.
May would also turn up at his house demanding to be let in, or call ahead warning: “I’m coming to get you. You’d better open the door.”
In another threat, he told construction firm boss Sam: “Do you not get how dangerous I am? Tonight you can die with me.”
In the two weeks before his arrest, May visited his mum in a “very angry” mood – threatening to break in and burn the house down.
May said he was “coming to kill her” and showed up at her home while she was away, saying he would “burn the house down”.
He also phoned Sam and threatened to kill him and rape a young relative.
May further targeted his other brother – former Chatham Town, Hythe Town, Doncaster Rovers and Charlton Athletic player Alfie.
He bombarded the EFL Player of the Year with a string of abusive phone calls, which forced Alfie to leave home and keep his new address hidden.
After his career took him to Birmingham City, May threatened to hurt him and his children as well as destroy his marriage with lies he referred to as “dirty secrets”.
The defendant also said he would find out where he lived and call his brother’s wife when Alfie was playing football away from home.
James Benson, prosecuting, said: “He expressed resentment at Alfie and Sam’s happy and successful lives, with both brothers having careers, families and family homes.
“Dane suggested he would put an end to it all.”
Alfie, who encouraged his brother to seek help, was forced to install cameras, alarms and smoke deterrents and discussed escape routes in case May showed up to carry out his threats.
On April 30, May “decided to make good on the previous threats made”, the court was told.
He made multiple threatening calls to Sam and his mother – prompting them to contact police.
Alfie was preparing for an evening match against Blackpool when he was also contacted by his brother.
At 10pm, May showed up at Sam’s home screaming to be let in, snorting cocaine and telling his brother: “I promise you, your time has come”.
He tried to kick his way through the large glass doors but only caused one to bow and damaged the frame, the court was told.
May then tried to smash his way in using a garden chair before he armed himself with a paving stone and smashed the back door with it.
His brother was heard on a call to police repeatedly shouting “stop” and urging his wife, who had sought refuge upstairs with their child, to also call for help.
May then kicked or stamped on Sam’s thigh while holding the paving stone at head height.
Mr Benson said: “Sam May was petrified and to protect himself punched out at the defendant.
“He described having a fight, with the defendant being ‘as strong as an ox’. But he [Sam May] overpowered him, put him to the ground, the slab fell to the ground, and he kicked and punched him numerous times to neutralise the fight.”
Once under arrest, the defendant could be heard “whimpering and apologising”. He also suffered a seizure and required treatment from paramedics.
In his victim impact statement, Sam May said his family was left “terrified” and what was meant to be their “forever home” had been put up for sale.
Alfie May told police he believed he “bore the brunt” of the abuse being the youngest of four brothers and “likely to offer least resistance”.
Mum Deborah said her son’s behaviour made the family “all feel in danger” and that she had had to change her “entire life” to stay safe, including moving away from Kent.
Sentencing, Judge Catherine Moore told him: “It is quite clear your behaviour terrorised your family members and you have left them petrified.
“The impact of your actions continues to resonate for each of them even though you remain in custody.”
As well as a jail term, May was handed an indefinite restraining order. He is also excluded from going to Doncaster, Huddersfield and any football ground where Alfie May is present.
SOURCE: THESUN
