Judge tells stalker dad to ‘grow up’
A MAN who bombarded his ex-partner with calls and messages to see his kids, despite being banned from contacting her under a court order, has been told by a judge to ‘grow up.’
Stephen Croft, 29, split with his girlfriend of nine years last autumn, but a non-molestation order was imposed in January to prevent contact between the couple.
Despite this, they continued to communicate on both sides to arrange contact with their two children, Manchester Crown Court heard.
Events turned ugly in March when Croft, from Salford, went to her home address with his children’s belongings and after a brief conversation called her a ‘tramp.’
Over the following days he continued to message her regarding seeing his children. A week later she refused to let the children stay over at Croft’s house and he told her she wouldn’t see them if she came round to pick them up.
Following a quick search with her stepmother, the woman found Croft with their children and tried to get them away, but he told her to ‘say goodbye’ to them.
The next day he bombarded her with calls stating he missed her and wanted to get back together, the court was told.
Croft was arrested on April 4 and in a prepared statement said contact had been agreed with his ex at her behest.
Pleading guilty to breach of a non molestation order, Croft was sentenced to a two-year community order, 15 rehabilitation activity requirements and 30 hours unpaid work.
Brendan O’Leary, defending, alluded to a probation report and suggested the judge would follow the suggestions made in terms of sentencing, including the imposition of the Building Better Relationships programme.
Sentencing, Judge Elizabeth Nicholls said: “Some of the contact was because you were trying to sort out arrangements for childcare. Unfortunately when you did that you used unpleasant and inappropriate language. You used that contact to be verbally abusive to your former partner.
“Mr Croft, you need to grow up and recognise the relationship is over.
“The fact is you have two children who demand and expect to have two adult parents even though their parents are no longer in a relationship.”
She added: “If you want to be a good father you are going to have to learn to grow up, not conduct yourself in this way and put this offending behind you.”
Croft, of Clifton Road, Eccles, was also ordered to complete the Building Better Relationships programme.