Brother of ex-Doncaster Rovers star jailed for terrorising own family
He made chilling rape threats and attacked his own sibling with a paving slab
The brother of a former Doncaster Rovers star has been jailed after terrorising and attacking his own family - including chilling rape threats.
Dane May carried out a relentless campaign of harassment against his two siblings and their mum over 18 months.
One of his brothers is professional footballer Alfie May, who played for Rovers from 2017 to 2020 and is now with Huddersfield Town.
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 also saw his mum forced to move house for her safety.
The court heard how Alfie 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.
And he bombarded Alfie with a string of abusive phone calls, which forced him to leave home and keep his new address hidden.
After his career took him to Birmingham City, May threatened to hurt his brother 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.