Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Stalker’s chilling threat to Nicola
Judge gives former soldier life ban on contacting her
GIRLS Aloud singer Nicola Roberts’ bitter ex-boyfriend, who stalked her for five years, has been banned from ever contacting the star. Ex-soldier Carl Davies, 39, threatened to stab and burn the singer and sent her 3,000 messages from 35 fake social media accounts. Some included knife and fire emojis, in others the Afghanistan veteran declared his love for Miss Roberts, 31, who ended their 18-month relationship in 2008 at the height of the band’s fame. She never replied but meticulously copied every vile missive. She called the police, after five years, when he moved on to target her R&B singer friend Joel Compass, a court heard. In a victim statement, flame-haired Nicola revealed to the hearing the impact of the relentless campaign. She said: “The messages he sent reminded me of all the terrible things that happened when we were together. It was only really last year when he started threatening my friend that I realised things couldn’t go on and I reported it to the police. “It was like walking on eggshells when we were together and the constant messaging was bringing all those feelings back.” Davies was arrested in February and held in custody. Miss Roberts’ statement said: “I feel safe in my own home knowing he can’t get to me.” But she added: “I am worried for when Carl gets out and when he [gets] access again to a mobile phone.” It was reported that Nicola and Davies, of Flint, North Wales, had been engaged but public rows, including one at G-A-Y club before she performed, led to the split. Davies, who admitted a charge of stalking and persistent use of public communication network to cause annoyance or inconvenience, was given a 15-month jail sentence, suspended for two years. He also received a lifetime restraining order banning him from contacting the singer, Mr Compass, or going within 250 metres of the pair or her family. Judge Jonathan Black told Guildford crown court: “Some of those messages were loving, wanting to be with her, some messages with little meaning but other messages threatening serious violence, mentioning knives and burning.” Prosecutor Lee Harris said: “Much of the tone of the messages was that they were still in a relationship, though that wasn’t the case, and she was concerned about what would happen in the future.” Among the 36 messages sent to Mr Compass, one read: “I’ll burn you once I finish with your face and body.” Monica Stevenson, defending, said Davies, who was disgusted with his conduct, had suffered post-traumatic stress disorder since leaving the Army and later jobs in private security had not helped his mental condition. After the case, a source close to Nicola told the Mirror: “Nicola is relieved she no longer has to live in fear or suffer abuse but it is going to take her a long time to move on from this.”
Messages reminded me of all the terrible things that happened NICOLA ROBERTS ON DAVIES’ STALKING