Persistent ex-lover’s ‘long’ abuse campaign

Man, 27, avoids jail after repeatedly falling foul of non-molestation order

A JILTED lover who subjected his former partner to ‘long-term persistent abuse’ was spared jail.

Troy Ballard, 27, appeared in the dock at Portsmouth Crown Court after his behaviour spiralled out of control – pushing his ex-partner to the brink. ‘I just want it to stop,’ she said.

Previous assaults by

Havant-based Ballard on his ex-girlfriend of over three years had sparked her to seek a non-molestation order in April 2019 to prevent him from communicating with her.

But Ballard, who has autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), found himself repeatedly falling foul of the order.

On July 11, 2019, the defendant flew into a rage outside Queen Alexandra Hospital after confronting his ex who was visiting her pregnant sister with her two children – one of whom he was the biological father of.

Ballard, of Ramsdale Avenue, warned the woman over her new boyfriend. He then ‘took off ’ with one of the children on his bike before he was found near the hospital and arrested by police.

Ballard had denied breaching his non-molestation order but was convicted by a jury at trial in November. He admitted two other offences after phoning and sending a message to the victim on February 25 last year.

During the conversation he was warned by the woman he was not meant to make contact but kept unleashing abuse.

Ballard made a further six calls.

Ballard was handed a ninemonth prison term suspended for two years and told to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and to complete 25 rehabilitation days.

He was also given an indefinite restraining order not to contact the victim and will have to attend a programme helping him to build better relationships.