A disgruntled husband bombarded his ex-wife with threatening messages before letting himself into her Northumberland home.
Robert Blakeburn, who has 19 past convictions, including three for drink driving and one for dangerous driving, struggled to come to terms with his marriage ending two-years-ago and so began a campaign of harassment against his former partner. A court heard that the 50-year-old left her 93 voicemails in just over a fortnight, during which he threatened to steal property, take her dog and cause damage.
However, Blakeburn's behaviour escalated on August 18 this year when he first sent the victim messages threatening to attend her home before following through with the threat. Prosecutors said that the woman returned home to find Blakeburn had let himself into her property while their adult children were there and was sitting on a sofa in her living room.
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Blakeburn, of Biverfield Road, Prudhoe, refused to get out, despite the victim repeatedly asking, and only finally left when their son intervened. Blakeburn was later arrested and appeared before Newcastle Magistrates' Court this week to plead guilty to one count of harassment.
Prosecutor, Claire Armstrong, said Blakeburn's harassment campaign started on July 20 this year and ended on August 18, when he was arrested for going into the victim's home. Miss Armstrong told the court: "The defendant left voicemail messages repeatedly calling the complainant a fat s*** and a w****. He made threats to steal property, take her dog and cause damage.
"These messages continued. Between August 2 and August 18, the complainant received 93 phone calls from the defendant, most containing voicemails. The complainant blocked him where she could but it appears the phone she has still records that the phone calls are being attempted."
The court was told that, on August 17, Blakeburn left a message saying he was going to come to the victim's home if she didn't respond and, the following day, he made good his threat. Miss Armstrong added: "The complainant left her address briefly and left her door unlocked as her son and daughter were there.
"When she returned, the defendant was found sitting in the living room watching TV. The complainant asked him to get out and he just laughed and continued to sit in the chair. She took hold of the defendant's shoulder and tried to move him out the house to no avail. The defendant made some motions with his leg and became aggressive."
Magistrates heard that the victim said she was going to ring the police before her son intervened and got Blakeburn, who has a past conviction for assaulting the same victim, out the property. He was later arrested.
Michael Gibson, defending, said Blakeburn was only in the address for a few moments, adding: "The main reason he went over was to talk to his son about a job opportunity." Mr Gibson told the court that Blakeburn had struggled with the breakdown of the 20-year marriage and having to move out their home.
Magistrates adjourned sentence for the preparation of a pre-sentence report and released Blakeburn on unconditional bail to next appear before the same court on December 21.
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