OFFENDER SENTENCED FOR VIOLENT THREATS AND HARASSMENT OF EX-NEIGHBOUR IN GLASGOW

A man named Lakshitha De Mel, aged 43, has been involved in a series of threatening and abusive actions towards his former friend, a 47-year-old woman, in Glasgow's Govan area. Between April and May 2024, De Mel bombarded the woman with approximately 400 vile, threatening, and sexual emails. These included explicit threats to share a sexual video of her online if she refused to sleep with him. After his release from a 10-month prison sentence in January 2024 for stalking, De Mel continued to harass her; he had been previously under a non-harassment order that prohibited contact. Despite this, he contacted her and called her derogatory names such as 'w***e', 'P**i w***e', 'b******', and 'c***'. The woman, who was previously his friend and ex-neighbour, stated that De Mel was romantically interested in her, but this was not reciprocated. She initially deleted some emails to avoid further legal action but later reported the case to the police after receiving messages where he expressed a desire to 'rape' and 'kill' her, and threatened to share a sexually explicit video of her online. De Mel was located at his home address and arrested. He later pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to stalking charges. The court heard that she had moved in with De Mel after ending a violent relationship with her partner. The case was adjourned for background reports, and De Mel was remanded in custody until sentencing, which will occur next month.