HULL STALKER JAMIE ROACH JAILED FOR CAMPAIGN OF HARASSMENT
An obsessed stalker made his ex-girlfriend's life a complete misery for about three months by bombarding her with abusive and threatening calls and messages "every hour of every day" in a nasty campaign of fear.Scheming and manipulative Jamie Roach also turned up at her home and threatened to confront her at her workplace unless she relented and let him back into her life, Hull Crown Court heard.
Roach, 39, of Partington Drive, off Marfleet Lane, east Hull, but recently in custody on remand, admitted stalking the woman between September 22 and December 26 last year.
He also admitted sending an explicit picture of himself to her on October 1.
Prosecutor Beatrice Allsop stated that Roach repeatedly pestered his ex-girlfriend with telephone calls and voicemail messages – and they "turned nasty".
He threatened her: "If you're not going to talk to me, I will just come to your work" and: "Unblock me on WhatsApp or I'm coming to your work." He also sent her photographs, including a "vulgar" one and asked if she would see him.
Despite her ignoring the messages, he continued his harassment.
She told him to leave when he knocked on her window, but he persisted with further telephone calls.
"He knew when she was on her own.
He knew when she was at work.
She was scared to leave the house in case he was watching her," added Miss Allsop.
Mitigating, Jazmine Lee said that Roach pleaded guilty at the first opportunity, accepted his behaviour, and struggled to accept the ending of the relationship.
The relationship ended in summer, with the stalking starting in September, after which she decided they should no longer remain friends.
Roach, who admitted his actions, expressed that he thought he was getting mixed messages and was mistaken in believing the relationship might resume.
He also acknowledged that his behaviour was childish, unnecessary, and excessive, describing it as "criminal", "abusive" and "intimidating".
Judge John Thackray KC told Roach that over a three-month period, he caused significant distress and potentially serious psychological harm.
She was entitled to end the relationship without any recriminations.
Despite warnings and being on bail, Roach continued offending, which included humiliating her in front of colleagues and turning up at her home.
The judge emphasized that Roach's behaviour was far beyond excessive, calling it criminal, abusive, and intimidating.
For his offences, Roach was jailed for one year and given a 10-year restraining order.
Judge Thackray said that "only appropriate punishment can be achieved by way of an immediate custodial sentence." Roach does not want to re-offend and recognizes the impact of his actions.
