A STALKER WHO WAS ‘SIMPLY UNWILLING’ TO LEAVE HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND ALONE HAS BEEN JAILED
Liam Hughes left his former partner terrified, causing her sleepless nights and making her feel unsafe in her own home, where she lived with her four-year-old daughter, Preston Crown Court was told.Prosecutor Bethany Pilling detailed how Hughes repeatedly turned up at the woman’s home during the night, knocking on windows and shouting through her letterbox.
On Christmas Eve last year, he etched the word “hell” alongside a heart symbol onto the bonnet of her Mazda.
Just four days later, he smashed one of the car windows with a pole.
The 32-year-old, of Athol Street, Barrow, was sentenced on 24 April after admitting charges of stalking causing serious alarm or distress, and criminal damage to property valued under £5,000.
Ms Pilling told the court that the harassment began on 20 May 2023, when Hughes sent an abusive email from an unfamiliar address, referring to the victim as a “fat smelly rat” and stating, “imagine being hairier than a man”.
Roughly a month later, he appeared in the complainant’s back garden, accusing her of lying and using a vulgar term this, while her young child was present.
In another incident, Hughes messaged the woman expressing jealousy over a Facebook photo she had posted of herself and her daughter with the child’s father.
On 1 July, he transferred two separate payments of £100 to her bank account at 10:30pm.
Just over two hours later, at 12:45am, he returned to her property and began banging on the windows.
On that occasion, the complainant said she was left “trembling and unable to breathe properly”, fearing he was trying to force entry into the house.
Hughes was arrested and placed on police bail.
However, the stalking resumed on Christmas Eve once bail conditions were lifted.
In mitigation, defence solicitor James Heyworth said: “He clearly has significant issues with abusing alcohol and behaves particularly badly when he is in drink.
“He is somewhat of an enigma.
I cannot give an insight into why he has behaved how he has and why he has drunk so much alcohol.
It is a spectacular fall from grace.
“None of his behaviour is acceptable or justifiable.
It is a mean and unpleasant way to treat someone.
“He has had time in custody to understand prison sentences will get longer and longer if he continues to offend.” The court was told there had been a “history of domestic abuse” between the parties.
Hughes had previously been convicted in August 2022 for offences against the same complainant.
On that occasion, the court heard that he had thrown eggs at her window after she refused to have sex with him.
He also threatened to plant child pornography on her browser to jeopardise her custody of her daughter.
Passing sentence, His Honour Judge Parry told Hughes: “You caused her alarm and distress over a significant period of time.
“She says she was frightened at being home alone and was constantly on edge.
You made her feel vulnerable in her own home and you have caused her to suffer a significant financial impact.
“You committed these offences whilst subject to a community order.
You knew exactly what you were doing, and it was calculated to cause her real fear.
“You are a bright, well-educated man, yet you knew exactly what you were doing, and for that your behaviour was calculated.
“Stalking of this kind is a very serious offence.
You have caused long-lasting effects to the victim and her family.
“You are simply unwilling to leave this woman alone.” Hughes was sentenced to 27 months in custody.
Judge Parry also issued a restraining order, in place until further notice, prohibiting any contact with the victim.
