ADAM ALLISON'S BRUTAL HARASSMENT CAMPAIGN IN DURHAM: COURT HEARS OF SUSTAINED THREATS AND ABUSE

A man named Adam James Allison from Durham has been found guilty of engaging in a prolonged and relentless campaign of harassment and threats against his former partner, despite being under a non-molestation order. The court proceedings revealed a disturbing pattern of behavior that spanned several weeks, illustrating the severity of his actions and the impact on the victim.

According to court reports, the non-molestation order was issued on January 11, prohibiting Allison from making any form of contact with his ex-partner, with whom he had a relationship lasting three months. However, within just a few weeks of the order being in place, Allison blatantly breached it by making numerous phone calls to her using withheld numbers. It was documented that he would call her up to 100 times daily, a relentless barrage that caused significant distress.

By the end of March, the victim received a series of text messages from Allison, in which he professed love for her. However, these messages were laced with malicious and derogatory comments about her disabled son, including threats to have her son taken away from her. The court heard that the messages grew increasingly sinister, with Allison threatening to make her and her son's lives miserable and even threatening to kill her.

Further alarming was a message implying that Allison was contemplating self-harm by hanging himself in the loft of his home. When police officers searched his property, they found it was empty, and he later called her to say she had made the biggest mistake of her life, also threatening to petrol bomb her residence. The following day, he made another call, offering to cease his harassment if she dropped the allegations against him.

After she changed her phone number in an attempt to escape his harassment, there was a brief period of silence. However, ten days later, an account registered in Allison’s name appeared on Snapchat, which was linked to her account. The messages from this account stated that he would not stop and would ruin her life, continuing to make hurtful remarks about her son. Subsequently, Allison sent her abusive letters, accusing her of blackmailing him.

When Allison was eventually arrested, he denied any responsibility, claiming he was unaware of the non-molestation order and asserting that his last communication with his ex-partner was in January. He also alleged that she had blackmailed him and involved others in hacking his Facebook account, denying any involvement in creating a fake account, which he referred to as “savvie.”

The victim provided a statement expressing her distress over his conduct, revealing that she had to change her phone number three times. Despite her efforts to move and start anew, Allison managed to locate her whereabouts. The court heard that his behavior was persistent and invasive, causing her significant emotional turmoil.

In light of his actions, Allison, aged 24 and residing on Barrasford Road, Newton Hall, Durham, pleaded guilty to breaching the non-molestation order. During the hearing, Helen Towers, representing the defense, acknowledged that Allison now recognized the severity of his conduct, describing it as “appalling.” She also highlighted a psychiatric report indicating that Allison suffers from emotional unstable personality disorder, along with compulsive behaviors, a fear of abandonment, ADHD, and depression, all stemming from a difficult upbringing.

Judge James Adkin commented on Allison’s behavior, noting the “element of cunning and planning” involved in his campaign of harassment. He sentenced Allison to 20 months in prison and imposed a ten-year restraining order, forbidding him from contacting or approaching his former partner in any way. The judge characterized the campaign as “sustained” and “unpleasant,” emphasizing the seriousness of his actions and their impact on the victim.