A stalker made a former partner's life a "misery" after incessantly messaging her from multiple phone numbers and following her. The victim became so paranoid and fearful she kept a knife by her bed.
Justin Howe, 43, from Newport, began a relationship with a women through a dating app but she put an end to it, worrying they were moving too quickly. During the relationship the victim told Howe about her previous partner who was physically abusive towards her and he kept notes on his phone about their conversations.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court heard the defendant used an app to generate telephone numbers which he used to message the victim anonymously. On May 27 last year Howe sent a message saying he was a friend who was worried about her. Prosecutor Thomas Stanway said: "He said her ex-partner was no good and she deserved more."
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When the victim asked who the messenger was Howe refused to reveal his identity. She suspected it was the defendant at first but later believed it to be her abusive former partner. She saw Howe on a number occasions when she bumped into him and he would pretend not to see her and she would see him driving around.
The victim received another message saying: "Congratulations for getting back with your ex". She received this message after another former partner came to her home, just 20 minutes after he arrived, which led her to think she was being watched. She asked her sister-in-law to message one of the numbers and Howe gave the impression she was speaking to the victim's abusive former partner.
Mr Stanway said: "She continued to think it was her ex which made matters worse because she was terrified of him and thought she was watching her every move. The messages would describe what she had been doing. She believed she was being watched and caused her serious distress."
On September 8 the victim received another message and contacted the police. An investigation was launched and some of the phone numbers were linked to an email address belonging to Howe and he was arrested and interviewed. He admitted he was "annoyed" when the victim ended the relationship but accused her of following him and sending him abusive messages.
Howe, of Rodney Road, later pleaded guilty to stalking involving fear of violence. The court heard he was of previous good character.
In a victim personal statement the victim said the stalking had left her feeling "frightened" and questioning her safety. She said: "The defendant was aware of how scared I am and I feel very angry he put me through this. It left me unable to sleep and thought I could hear something in my house at night."
The victim suffered with flashbacks and nightmares and her day-to-day living was affected. She thought about changing her car and moving house and checked for trackers and cameras. She added: "I became completely paranoid all the time... I was scared to go out alone and had cameras installed in my home.... I kept a knife upstairs in a bedroom drawer with a torch."
Defence barrister Scott Bowen said it had been a year since his client's offence and he had not reoffended during that time. He accepted there was a degree of sophistication but there were no threats of violence. Mr Bowen said the defendant had not seen his children as a result of his conviction.
Sentencing, Judge Paul Hobson said: "After she ended your relationship, which she was entitled to do, it seems to me you were bitter towards her. This was nothing short of psychological cruelty on your part towards her. Highly manipulative behaviour.... You made the complainant's life a misery in a manipulative and cynical way."
Howe was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment. He was also made subject to a restraining order indefinitely.
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