A man has been sent to prison after he forged his ex-partner's name on an official document and "hounded" her with abusive messages after they broke up.
Stuart Bell tried to pin the offensive texts on his nephew when questioned by police officers. His big sister, Mandy Bell, also found herself in court for perverting the course of justice for falsely co-signing the legal documents.
Stuart Bell, who has married his new partner since splitting with his ex in May 2020, is now starting a four year and four month stint behind bars. It was on the day of his trial that he admitted stalking, breaching a restraining order, perverting the course of justice and forgery, reports Teesside Live.
Teesside Crown Court heard how Bell had split with his partner after the relationship deteriorated and he met someone else. The separation of assets began and, while it was initially amicable, communication began to sour.
It was agreed that Bell would keep the home and his ex would receive £10,000 in cash as well as a Mercedes motor vehicle. But when the car was not handed over, the legal proceedings stalled and Bell took matters into his own hands.
Philip Morley, prosecuting, said: "He set up a false email account in her name to continue the correspondence. The amended transfer document was sent and he signed it in her name and sent it back to the solicitor."
It was only picked up in September 2020 when direct contact with the complainant alerted them to the fact it was not her signature. His sister, Mandy, also signed the document saying she was the witness in a "foolish" act which landed her in court with Bell.
Mr Morley said between September 2020 and January 2021, Stuart Bell sent his ex abusive and sometimes threatening messages. "Some were taunting her about the motor vehicle and it not being handed over," he said. Others were of intimate photographs of her with lewd and unflattering remarks about her. In one message he called her a 'skank'.
The court heard he also sent a video of his ex with her sister to her with "the implication they were being watched by Mr Bell". Commenting on the messages, Judge Timothy Stead said: "They are very personal, offensive in nature. They make reference to her physical appearance.... they are calculated to be as hurtful as possible."
When interviewed by police, Bell claimed his nephew was behind the abusive comments. Mr Morley said: "[The nephew] confirmed he had no involvement or knowledge of the text messages and emails. He said his uncle had been in touch with him asking him to take responsibility for the messages."
In one of the victim impact statements read out at a previous hearing, the ex partner said: "At one point I was receiving anywhere between 10 to 30 messages or emails hounding me daily. I felt like I couldn't go a day without being tortured by him.
"At this time, I felt a mess and my head was all over. I was constantly in fear as to what would happen wondering if his behaviour would escalate from his messages."
On Monday, the court heard that the stress of the case left her having suicidal thoughts and she was prescribed medication. She described how Bell's behaviour had impacted on her job.
During the course of the stalking offences, Bell was convicted of harassment and criminal damage after he entered the flat where the woman was residing, smashed her phone and poured bleach over her clothes. He was handed a restraining order which he went on to breach.
Bell, of North Road, Darlington, has remarried since the breakdown of the relationship and has been trying to get on with his life. The court heard he did not believe he was going against his ex's wishes but was hurrying along the legal process which had stalled.
Miss Hussain, mitigating, said Bell knows he was wrong and he should have "shown her more respect". She said the move to blame his nephew was "desperate and foolish" and only "dug a hole for himself".
She said Bell, who had a steady employment, regrets his actions and has a positive impact on his friends, family and community. Bell has 35 convictions for 135 offences. Judge Stead said the victim's despair was clear as he sentenced Bell to a total of four years and four months in prison.
Mandy Bell, who was sentenced on April 4, pleaded guilty on the day of the trial after her younger brother changed his plea. At the time, Judge Stead said: "It's very disappointing to see someone like you who is well spoken of. This is a single offence, it is a serious matter especially when the transfer of property is concerned.
"You're very much on the way to rehabilitation, I don't think you will do anything like this again. You weren't doing it for your own gain. It was a bit of folly on your part and you shouldn't have done it."
She was handed a 10-month sentence suspended for one year. She was also told to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.
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