A stalker’s ‘jealousy and possessiveness’ led him to crawl in through his victim’s window and bombard her with messages, a court has heard.
Paul Morrison, 49, subjected the woman to the deeply disturbing ordeal after their relationship of around 12 years broke up during lockdown.
He became obsessed with the idea she was unfaithful to him before climbing uninvited through her window on July 14 2020, Bolton Crown Court heard.
Sophie Kenny, prosecuting, said: “He admitted entering the lounge window, he said he was distraught by the complainant’s actions as he had been planning to marry her.”
She added: “He said he sent the messages in frustration, describing himself as a broken man.”
Ms Kenny told the court that Morrison had sent a barrage of unwanted messages to the woman in the early hours in July two years ago.
He then climbed into her house through the window later that day while she was upstairs.
Morrison, of Townsfield Road, Westhoughton, left after being confronted by a witness who saw him climb through but sent further messages later that same day.
The messages continued over a three week period and according to Ms Kenny included Whatsapps, Facebook messages and emails making ‘crude reference’ to their history.
Morrison was arrested soon after and at first pleaded not guilty at Wigan Magistrates Court and again at a plea hearing at Bolton Crown Court.
He eventually pleaded guilty to stalking on November 14 this year before the start of his trial.
A victim impact statement read by Ms Kenny said that she had been affected ‘every day’ had been left in fear and had had trouble sleeping.
Estelle Parkhouse, defending, argued that Morrison’s behaviour was out of character and that with only one previous conviction for an unrelated driving matter to his name he was ‘effectively of good character.”
She told the court that he posed a low risk of reoffending and that he still presented a good chance of rehabilitation.
He also, Ms Parkhouse claimed, “accepts that the relationship is well and truly over.”
Judge Timothy Clayson accepted that Morrison had show signs of this already and that his actions were unusual and out of character.
He said: “You seem to have got over the jealousy and possessiveness that has affected you, I’m sure you are not normally like this.”
But he reminded the court of the serious impact that Morrison’s ‘extremely unpleasant’ actions had had on his victim, which had caused her ‘serious long-term harm.’
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Judge Clayson gave Morrison a sentence of eight months in prison, suspended for 12 months.
He also ordered him to complete 35 rehabilitation activity requirement days and to pay £200 towards the cost of prosecution.
The judge also hit Morrison with a restraining order forbidding him from contacting the woman for two years.
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