MIDDLEWICH MAN FINED FOR HARASSING EX-PARTNER AFTER BREAK-UP
A MIDDLEWICH man harassed his ex-partner with messages, a nine-minute voicemail, and messages in bank transfers after their break-up - all while he was under the cloud of a previous harassment conviction.Nicholas Spedding, of Woodstock Drive, appeared before Warrington Magistrates Court on Wednesday, February 4, where he pleaded guilty to one charge of harassment.
Neve Flynn, prosecuting, told the court Spedding had been in a relationship with the victim for 17 months and it had come to an end in October last year.
She said the pair had moved into the Northwich area together before the complainant moved away to Tarporley.
The victim made an application to police under Claire's Law in relation to Spedding.
Claire's Law allows individuals to formally ask police to disclose if a partner or ex-partner has a record of abusive or violent behaviour that may put them at risk.
Police then disclosed to her that Spedding had a previous conviction of harassment.
After the relationship ended, the 43-year-old defendant expressed a desire to move to Tarporley where his ex-partner resides.
Ms Flynn said the defendant continued to contact the victim, despite her requests for him not to, telling her he would park in the same car park she used for work.
"He transferred her money with a reference that said 'trying my best' and sent her lengthy voice mails," she added.
She also spotted him in the same supermarket where she was doing her shopping.
While Spedding was harassing his ex-partner, he was also undergoing work with probation in relation to a community order he was handed for his previous conviction from 2024.
The prosecutor summarised the impact the defendant's behaviour had had on the victim.
She said: "This has been distressing for the victim, she has felt the need to install security cameras at her home because of the defendant's behaviour." Mitigating, Richard Thomas said his client was 'going through a difficult time in his personal life' when the offence occurred.
"The nine-minute voicemail he left was saying how wonderful the victim is and how sad he is that the relationship had ended.
None of the messages sent were horrible.
He does not have many friends and moved to rural Cheshire from Manchester." Mr Thomas added: "He is vulnerable and he knows not to have contact with that person again." Concluding the sentencing, Recorder Alexandra Simmonds said: "You struggled to accept your relationship had come to an end.
You continued to send her messages even when she asked you not to.
That was distressing for her because she found out you had a previous conviction for harassment.
Then turning up accidentally where she was shopping was distressing for her.
I take into account that the messages are not threatening and that you stopped sending them.
You completed this offence whilst seeing probation about similar behaviour." She added: "The reality is, if you behave this way again you will be sending yourself straight to prison." Spedding was ordered to pay a fine of £1,166, along with prosecution costs of £85 and a surcharge of £466.
A restraining order was also imposed for the defendant not to contact the victim, enter Tarporley, or enter Bridgewater Car Park in Manchester for three years.
