Jailed, the 1p stalker

Messages sent via penny bank deposits

A ‘REPELLENT’ stalker has been jailed after repeatedly putting single pennies into his ex-girlfriend’s bank account so he could send messages via notes on the deposits.

Sean Barret, 25, had already sent ‘hundreds’ of emails begging for a reconciliation and been blocked on her social media channels.

He had also threatened to send intimate pictures of the woman to a football club.

The 24-year-old victim had asked Barret to stop.

But he then started using her bank account to contact her.

He made ‘numerous’ electronic deposits to her account, each one for a single penny.

Prosecutor Sean Maher told Falkirk Sheriff Court Barret used the reference field to send phrases such as ‘miss you’, ‘I’m sorry’, and ‘please unblock’.

The court heard that between July 1 and August 4 last year, after the relationship had ended, Barret repeatedly sent messages via social media, email and other electronic means.

He also threatened the woman, her property and her family, and repeatedly threatened to make intimate images of her public.

Mr Maher said: ‘Some of these messages contained threats to send persons to her door.

‘Further messages contained selfie emojis which were interpreted by her as a threat to disclose intimate images.’

On July 31 last year, the woman received an email from Barret threatening to send intimate pictures of her to Grangemouth Football Club in Stirlingshire.

Attached was an album of photographs, some of which she had willingly sent to Barret and others she was not aware had been taken.

Other messages related to a drug debt run up by Barret, which he asked her to pay off.

The court heard that the woman was so concerned about Barret’s behaviour that she moved out of her home and went back to live with her parents.

Barret was then arrested. When officers arrived at his home, he said: ‘I went too far.’

Barret, of Grangemouth, pleaded guilty to stalking.

Paul McCue, defending, said: ‘There’s no justification for his behaviour.’

Sheriff Christopher Shead said: ‘Cowardly and repellent are two words that spring to mind.’

He jailed Barret for seven months and also imposed a two-year non-harassment order forbidding him from contacting his victim.

Barret showed no emotion as he was led to the cells.

‘Cowardly and repellent’