A man made terrifying threats and left unwanted gifts outside a neighbour's home as he subjected her to three months of harassment.
Andrew Boyne then sent the woman a letter from inside prison, while on remand for his crimes, Bolton Crown Court heard. The 43-year-old has now been jailed for eight months.
The victim, who is in her 20s, noticed that Boyne would regularly watch her from his window, prosecution barrister James Preece told the court. On December 5 2021, the woman's friend picked her up in a car and Boyne approached the passenger window where she was sat.
Mr Preece told the court that Boyne said 'I'm going to slit your throat' and used his finger to gesture across his own neck. Boyne then threatened to shoot the woman's dad and called her friend a 'slag'.
The victim reported Boyne to the police and in an impact statement said: "He has left me frightened to leave my own home". She also described Boyne as 'very unpredictable' and said 'no one should have to live like this'.
Despite being arrested in connection with the incident, Boyne's harassment continued until March of this year. On a number of occasions he left gifts such as teddies, chocolates and DVDs outside her home.
Other times, he would knock on her door and shout things at the living room window. He also added the victim on Facebook and commented on a status from 2018 that stated she was in a relationship.
In a further victim impact statement, the woman said: "I am on pins all the time." She added that she has 'panic attacks when he's watching me' and said that his behaviour had a 'massive impact'.
Boyne, of Pennine Road, Horwich, pleaded guilty to harassment and possession of a knife - following a separate incident on March 16, when he was seen with a knife in the street.
Defending, Martin Pizzey told the court that Boyne suffers with addictions to heroin, crack cocaine and diazepam and said that since being on remand, it is the 'longest time he has been without drugs for 25 years'. He also referenced a psychological report, which states that Boyne suffers with mental and behavioural issues.
The judge, Recorder Simon Hilton sentenced Boyne to eight months imprisonment. He said: "This is best described as a pattern of behaviour over an extended period of time directed towards a neighbour, characterised by unwanted attention, shouting through your window at her, watching her, making uninvited visits to her house, calling to see her, leaving unwanted presents outside the house but what stands out is a very unpleasant incident that started this when you accosted her in a car and threatened to slit her throat and shoot her father.
Recorder Hilton also imposed a restraining order, prohibiting Boyne from contacting the victim until further notice. He added: "This is not simply pestering and unwanted attention but, on at least one occasion, a serious threat of violence."
