A former maths teacher made 14 Instagram accounts to stalk, intimidate and threaten a young woman.
Nathan Pettit, 26, was “obsessed” with the woman, from Wirral, who he initially met through their mutual interest in fitness training and they began a relationship. However just a few weeks later she discovered he was also seeing another woman and ended her relationship with him.
Despite this there was continued contact when he followed her and disrupted an event she was attending. He then went to her home and stayed the night and the next day they talked about their relationship but later argued.
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Liverpool Crown Court heard on Thursday, May 5, how she repeatedly asked him to leave but he refused and stayed over another night. Chris Stables, prosecuting, said the woman accused Pettit of a serious criminal offence - though he was cleared after a jury trial - and it was after that alleged incident he began repeatedly calling and messaging her and there was “a controlling” aspect to it.
An example of this was when she had a medical appointment about contraception and he was insistent she was not seen by a male doctor. After she had been he repeatedly rang her and when she eventually answered, her friend, who was driving her home, heard him ‘shouting and screaming’ at her.
From then on she blocked his social media accounts but he created more and different Instagram profiles in an attempt to reach her. Mr Stables said: “He left voicemail messages on the complainant’s mobile phone and threatened the complainant by stating he had intimate photographs and an intimate video recording from their time together.
“He indicated that he would not delete the images and the recording, and taunted the complainant with threats of disclosure generally.”
Mr Stables said he also threatened he would report her and her landlord to the taxman about his alleged tax evasion and sent her photographs of relevant online forms. The prosecution continued: “Pettit set up 14 Instagram accounts which she had to block when she became aware of them.
“He left a voicemail for the complainant stating that he was going to attend at her home address to drop off some of her belongings. He then sent her an Instagram post outside her home address.”
Staffordshire Police arrested him at his then home address and he made no comment when arrested. He was released on police bail.
He posted details of police investigation on his Instagram page and said the allegations were false and he would make everything concerning the case public when he could. She obtained a non-molestation order but he breached it and was consequently prosecuted and fined, said Mr Stables.
Pettit, formerly of Paris Avenue, Newcastle-under-Lyme admitted stalking, which spanned five months, and intimidation which lasted for five weeks of that period. Judge Garrett Byrne said that Pettit was 26 ‘but I had formed the view in terms of maturity you are younger than that.”
He said the victim was “completely entitled to do whatever she wanted to do…..it wasn’t for you to dictate about her behaviour.”
The judge said Pettit “made repeated attempts to explain your behaviour. You accepted there were better ways to conduct yourself but at no point showed any remorse or understanding of the effect of your negative behaviour.”
He said his letter to the court was notable for the absence of remorse or empathy though he had shown some in his pre-sentence report.
Judge Byrne. said: “Your conduct was committed over a persistent period of time born out of obsession with her and the inability to let the relationship go. What is most noticeable was your intent to cause her the maximum distress possible.
“Even after your arrest and release that did nothing to deter you, so determined were you to make her life as difficult as possible. It was planned and sophisticated.”
He said Pettit, now of Holmfold Farm, Slackfold, Bolton, “posted a disgraceful and misogynistic photograph. Your behaviour was not only determined but there was an element of cruelty.
“All of this had a real impact on her. She described her trauma and your behaviour infected all corners of her life. She now lives in fear of seeing you and your car.”
Judge Byrne said she described “a prison-like existence you created” and it exacerbated her pre-existing conditions giving her panic attacks and leaving her feeling vulnerable.
He sentenced him to 18 months imprisonment but said it was a “finely balanced” case and suspended the term for two years. The judge said he took into account his immaturity and the fact he has not re-offended and only has the one previous conviction.
He also ordered him to carry out 35 days rehabilitation activities, undertake a ‘building better relationships’ course and carry out 100 hours unpaid work. The judge also imposed an indefinite restraining order.
Paul Becker, defending, said that Pettit’s intention was to clear his name “but he went about it the wrong way and there is no justification for his behaviour.”
Mr Becker said the defendant was a highly intelligent man who obtained a degree in accounts and finance in Liverpool. He qualified as a maths teacher and taught at a secondary school in Stoke-on-Trent before he resigned as a result of the serious allegation against him.
He now lives and works in Bolton and he would benefit from assistance to ensure he does not re-offend.
