Harassed woman tells court: Only jail will stop him
EX WHO TORMENTED HER GETS 16 MONTHS
A PERSISTENT pest who has made his ex-girlfriend’s life a misery by refusing to leave her alone has finally been jailed.
Time and time again, Iain Ward ignored the wishes of his former partner after they split in June 2019 and flouted court orders imposed for her protection.
In May this year he was given a 12-month suspended prison sentence and a five-year restraining order after turning up at her home with a samurai sword, demanding to see her new boyfriend.
He had also been cautioned last year for harassing her and sending malicious communications.
And in August this year he was back in court for breaching the restraining order by phoning her, but was given a chance to stay out of prison.
However he blew it by contacting the woman three further times in October.
Now Ward, 44, of Rocket Way, Forest Hall, North Tyneside, has finally been locked up.
His victim said in a statement read to Newcastle Crown Court: “I’m extremely distressed by his behaviour and I’ve got post-traumatic stress dis
order from a previous incident involving him and can’t move on with my life. What man would want to be in a relationship with me with him hanging around?
“I’m sick to death of his pestering me. I’m sick to death of calling the police to my home. I simply want to live in peace with my cats.
“I think only prison will stop him.” The court heard Ward breached the restraining order on October 16 by phoning the victim from a withheld number.
When she answered, he said “Guess the voice” and “you know who it is”.
Matthew Hopkins, prosecuting, said: “He asked if she had a boyfriend and she told him she was going through a bereavement and didn’t need the stress of speaking to him.”
The following night, he left a voicemail on her phone after calling from a withheld number. She reported it to the police and on October 20, he called again, asking her to drop the charges.
Mr Hopkins said: “She yelled at him, telling him to leave her alone.”
Later that night, Ward dialled 101 to report himself for breaching the restraining order and he was arrested.
Ward pleaded guilty to three counts of breaching the restraining order and breaching the suspended prison sentence and was jailed for 16 months.
Judge Edward Bindloss told him: “Given the number of chances you have been given and the extent of these breaches, the end of the road has been reached.
“This case has now become so serious only an immediate custodial sentence can be justified.
“You are assessed as a high risk of harm to the complainant and you have a poor history in relation to court orders.”
The judge asked that a report is passed to the prison authorities warning that Ward is a risk to himself in custody, having previously tried to cut his wrists with the wire frame from his glasses.
Jamie Adams, for Ward, said he was a “hapless alcoholic” who has made attempts to get off alcohol. “Alcoholism is a crippling condition that Mr Ward suffers from,” he said.