Woman tried to terrorise ex
A woman used multiple email accounts and cellphone numbers to threaten her ex for months, saying she would stab him in his sleep.
The woman, 28, was yesterday convicted and sentenced to three months’ community detention by Christchurch District Court Judge Mark Callaghan.
At her sentencing, the woman sought a discharge without conviction and permanent name suppression.
In November, she admitted charges of offensive use of a telephone, causing harm by posting digital communication, and breaching a protection order.
In January 2021, the woman bought SIM cards and cellphones, and created new email addresses and Facebook accounts.
She sent messages to an employer the man worked for on a casual basis, saying the victim was being investigated by police for inappropriately touching girls at a workplace.
Two months later, the woman posted the same allegation on various Facebook pages.
‘‘These posts were seen by numerous members of the public causing the victim serious emotional distress,’’ police prosecutor Ged Alloway said.
The woman sent threatening texts, including ‘‘50k hit on u watch out’’ and ‘‘Gonna get rid of you’’. She also threatened the man’s friends, dog, and ex-partner, and stated she had poisoned him, was watching him, and was armed.
The victim obtained a temporary protection order but the woman breached it by sending more messages, including ‘‘I will stab u in ur sleep’’.
The disturbing electronic harassment continued for five months.
A victim impact statement read to the court detailed how the woman’s ‘‘extreme psychological abuse’’ caused severe emotional harm to the victim.
She directed ‘‘suicidal rhetoric’’ at the victim over a prolonged period and made clear attempts to have him fired from his job.
Her motives were fuelled by a desire to manipulate and control the victim, the statement said.
Judge Callaghan declined permanent name suppression but granted interim suppression to allow for an appeal. He also ordered her to pay $1000 to the victim for emotional harm.