Doncaster stalker made victim's life a "constant nightmare"

A stalker who bombarded his former partner with declarations of undying love that turned abusive and threatening made her life a "constant nightmare," Sheffield Crown Court heard.
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Paul Johnson began posting hand-written cards to the woman on March 29, after he was convicted of stalking her the month before, prosecutor Richard Davies said.

The first cards said: "I truly open-heartedly love you. I think about you day and night. Please, please don't contact the police, please. I will always love you to the day I die."

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Johnson used a friend's Facebook account to contact her and "made threats to hurt the person he thought she was involved in."

Paul Johnson.Paul Johnson.
Paul Johnson.

"I have money, lots and lots. I know exactly where he lives. He will regret ever meeting you,” he wrote. "I hope you get cancer or a brain tumour and die you evil old-man f*****."

He sent a total of 183 messages and made four phone calls, firing off 48 messages in the space of five hours on May 28. On one occasion, he offered the woman's boss £10,000 to sack her.

In a statement, she said her life became a "constant nightmare," but she was too scared to block him in case he turned up at her home.

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The court heard he has previous convictions for harassment causing fear of violence in 2011 and battery in 2015.

Lauren Fisher, mitigating, said alcohol was "a significant contributing factor" and he admitted drinking up to a full bottle of vodka per day.

The messages displayed an "up-and-down rollercoaster of emotions flitting between messages of love and devotion to messages of anger and frustration," she said.

Ms Fisher said the three weeks he has spent on remand were "extremely frightening" and "a short sharp shock to him."

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He now accepted that their 18-month relationship, which ended in November, last year, was over, she said on Friday.

Johnson, 47, of Queens Park, Edlington, Doncaster, pleaded guilty to harassment and breach of a restraining order, at Sheffield Magistrates Court, on June 12.

On Friday, Judge Roger Thomas QC sentenced him to 12 months in prison and reminded him a restraining order was still in force.

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