STALKER JAILED AFTER TERRORISING EX-PARTNER WITH THREATS AND PROPERTY DAMAGE
David Toole, a 37-year-old who had previously stalked his former partner, caused her to feel unsafe in her own residence.He struggled to accept that she was moving forward with her life, and he repeatedly sent her threatening messages as well as confronting her face-to-face with menacing behavior.
Just days after warning her to "watch her gaff" and "watch her back," he shattered windows at her home and even threatened to cut her throat.
His actions left the victim feeling terrified and insecure in her own space.
Toole has now been sentenced to 18 months in prison at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.
According to prosecutor Emily Woodside, the defendant and the victim were once in a relationship; however, after their separation, he frequently appeared at her residence.
Miss Woodside described Toole as intoxicated and disruptive, often visiting her up to eight times a day.
In March, he sent her messages demanding money and issued threats, stating he would "do her in" and warning her to "watch her gaff" and "watch her back." On March 11, while she was in her flat, a double-glazed window was broken, and she believed it was Toole responsible.
A few days later, on March 14 at 7:26 pm, her window was again smashed, and she saw Toole fleeing the scene with a metal bar.
As he ran past her, he screamed that he would slit her throat.
He was caught on CCTV smashing the windows on both occasions.
Despite being released on police bail from March 15 with orders not to contact her, Toole approached her on May 7 in Hanley while she was repairing a bicycle.
He inquired about the bike’s ownership, then became aggressive, raising his voice and approaching her nose-to-nose, demanding "Give me those trainers then." She handed over the trainers out of fear.
In her victim impact statement, she expressed that she no longer feels safe because of Toole.
She stated he exploited her vulnerability, terrorized her, and made her feel at risk.
The defendant, of no fixed address, admitted to charges of threatening someone to cause fear of violence through stalking.
Catherine O'Reilly, representing Toole, explained that he had a challenging childhood spent in care, which contributed to ongoing difficulties in adult relationships and issues with rejection.
She noted that he resorted to daily alcohol consumption to cope with his pain, leading to his aggressive behavior prior to the offenses.
She also informed the court that Toole has been diagnosed with ADHD, psychosis, anxiety, and depression.
O'Reilly emphasized that he is no longer abusing substances and is eager for rehabilitation and release.
The judge, Recorder Robert Smith, imposed a 10-year restraining order and stated: "You sent her threatening messages, telling her to watch her gaff and her back.
Two days later, her window was broken.
On March 14, you smashed another window at her property, fleeing with a metal bar and threatening to slit her throat.
You were arrested and released on bail, yet you blatantly disregarded that condition.
Six weeks later, you encountered her in Hanley while she was repairing a bike with a friend.
You demanded she remove her trainers, and she felt unable to refuse out of fear.
You caused her to feel unsafe through threats both in texts and in person, vandalism, and your refusal to accept her moving on.
Your offending is serious enough to warrant immediate custody to suitably address the gravity of your actions."
