Obsessive ex subjected former girlfriend to tirade of abuse

Obsessive ex subjected former girlfriend to tirade of abuse

An Obsessed and controlling man who could not cope with the break-up of his relationship subjected his former girlfriend to a campaign of harassment.

Wayne Ellis sent his ex, who has asked to remain annonymous, numerous threatening and abusive text messages and emails and followed her, a court heard.

Imposing a suspended prison sentence a judge told 34-year-old Ellis, “You are very bitter and have been an angry man.”

Judge Denis Watson, QC, said that for someone who claimed to dislike his victim he had used “a lot of energy and life pursuing her after the relationship was at an end.”

He said that Ellis, of Ribble Avenue, Southport had wanted to “control and dominate her. You carried out a number of wicked and despicable acts causing her significant distress.

“If you really wanted nothing to do with her you would have just walked away, which suggests to me that you have a number of unresolved issues,” said Judge Watson.

He told Ellis that while he had never been in trouble before and has a job “make no mistake your behaviour over a number of months towards [your ex] was such it is serious enough to merit a prison sentence.”

He said that by suspending six months imprisonment for two years it would be up to Ellis whether he actually served that term. He also ordered him to carry out 100 hours unpaid work and 20 days rehabilitation activity.

Judge Watson also imposed a three year restraining order not to contact his ex and banned him from entering Russell Avenue, Southport between Norwood Avenue and Moss Lane, where the victim works in a care home, until October when she is due to go to university.

Ellis had pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment between July 1 last year and May 2 and damaging a car door in August 2014.

Christopher Hopkins, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court that the couple had been in a relationship which ended in 2014. “She described him as extremely aggressive, abusive, controlling and paranoid.”

She stayed friends with him because his father was terminally ill but he pursued her sending abusive and threatening messages and emails and began following her. He sent her messages which indicated he had been watching her movements such as saying he knew she had been to the gym,

He accused her of sleeping with other men and one night while she was at a friend’s home in Banks he sent one such message and when she looked out of the window saw him standing outside, said Mr Hopkins.

Ellis kept texting her at work and ringing there and when one such call was answered by a man with a Jamaican accent he made comments about him not speaking English.

In an impact statement the victim said that his jealous and controlling behaviour had caused her a lot of distress and she had been left feeling humiliated and worthless. She had also suffered from panic attacks and “just wanted to be left alone.”

Neil Howard, defending, said that Ellis “has had time to consider his behaviour  and now accepts it was truly appalling and relentless and would have caused a great deal of trauma to her.”

He began having problems when his father became terminally ill and after he passed away “he was at his lowest ebb and in a very dark place and was taking it out on the complainant.

“He is deeply ashamed and remorseful for sending those messages and wishes to send his apologies to her and her family.”

Ellis, who runs a thriving painting and decorating firm, accepts he needs counselling for his problems, added Mr Howard.

Submit News Contact us with your community, business or sport news. Phone 07581350321

Email ots@otsnews.co.uk

Facebook www.facebook.com/otsnews.co.uk

Twitter  www.twitter.com/onthespot_news

Breaking local news as it happens, searchable archives with photographs, the ability to instantly comment on news articles – there are so many advantages to OTS (Onthespot) News.

If you want your news read locally online then send it to ots@otsnews.co.uk – relying only on the newspaper is to restrict yourself to an ever reducing audience.