A man who bombarded his ex-partner with a series of attempted phone calls over Christmas after being released from prison has been handed an another jail sentence.
Thomas John Samuel Park, 22, was jailed for a total of four-and-a-half years in January 2020. Part of that punishment was for the wounding of his ex-girlfriend’s brother.
Park was released from custody on licence on December 23 last year. But the next day, and across the Christmas period — including Boxing Day — he made multiple attempts to call the woman, sometimes his contact showing on her handset as no caller ID.
In almost every case, his calls went unanswered other than 18 seconds of contact from her during a brief response.
Park, latterly of Lowther Street, Carlisle, also sent unwanted friend requests to her through the Facebook and Snapchat social media sites. He was arrested in the new year, brought to court and admitted two breaches of a restraining order he received as part of his 2020 sentence. This order runs for 10 years and bans him from having any direct contact with the woman.
Park was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court today when prosecutor Beccy McGregor said his illegal attempts to get in touch with her had been incredibly persistent in their nature.
“The victim makes it very clear from what she says in her statement,” said Ms McGregor, “that was uninvited contact across the festive period which she describes leaving her scared to return to her own home.”
Her fear was such that she also took her young son out of nursery. “She describes that the defendant is still trying to control her,” said the prosecutor, who spoke of “several incidents of domestic abuse” during their two-year relationship. “She doesn’t want to live her life this way.”
Russell Davies, for Park, said he had never physically contacted the woman, nor threatened or intimidated her directly or indirectly.
Park had since been recalled to custody to serve the remainder of his 2020 sentence, and was not due to be released until March, 2024.
He was handed a 14-month jail term for the breaches by Judge Nicholas Barker which will take effect immediately.
“You are now serving the whole of that (2020) sentence because of your actions,” Judge Barker told Park. “Whatever belief you had — if indeed you had it — you should have understood that your requirement under the restraining order was to have no contact with her at all.”
