A young man who smirked as he told a mental health worker of his plan to kidnap, drug and kill an ex-partner has been given a three-year prison sentence.
Carlisle Crown Court heard today how Alexander Bragg, 21, and the 19-year-old woman had dated for only a month last year. She ended things after Bragg professed his love for her, she believing that contact was becoming too intense, too quickly.
As she went away to university, Bragg bombarded the young woman with unwanted messages both by phone and online in his desperate bid to revive the relationship. He contacted her sister, a friend and housemate when the distressed woman blocked him on various platforms.
Bragg, a man with underlying issues, then spoke with a mental health worker on November 12. He confessed to having thoughts of kidnapping his ex, telling the worker of researching a plan to drive to her university undetected by cameras, and that he intended to discuss them getting back together.
“If she didn’t agreed to that he told (the worker) his plan was to kidnap her and take her to woodland where he would inject ketamine,” said Mr Evans, “to keep her in some sort of drugged state and his company with a view to inducing on her Stockholm Syndrome — the phenomena whereby those kidnapped because of their emotional state begin to form attachments to the kidnapper.
“He indicated he had researched how Stockholm Syndrome worked. If after that she still wouldn’t take him back then then he would kill her and kill himself.”
The worker spoke of Bragg being calm and cold as he outlined his plan, at some points even smirking.
A crossbow and recurve bow for which he’d bought new tips were seized from his home along with notes which ended with a list of items hinting at preparation for the trip.
Mr Evans added: “Camping gear was listed along with a few days of food, a shovel, saw, sack, axe and hand drill.” Referring to his clothing, Bragg stated “pref camo” in an apparent reference to camouflage.
The teenager was woken by police, informed of Bragg’s terrifying threats and had since suffered sleepless nights and undergone counselling. “I am very afraid that Alexander will actually do the things he has said he will do,” she had stated. “This does make me feel afraid for my safety and for my life.”
Bragg, previously of Brierydale Lane, Stainburn, admitted harassment and making a threat to kill.
Jeff Smith, defending, said of Bragg: “He never intended to carry out the threat. It was a theory, as opposed to a plan.”
But, passing sentence and concluding Bragg should be deemed a dangerous offender, Recorder Mark Ainsworth said of his threat: “It is well analysed, it is well researched, it is well planned and, frankly, chilling.”
Bragg was banned from contacting the woman indefinitely.
Speaking after the hearing, Detective Constable Toby Gott, of Cumbria police, said: “We take harassment and threats of violence extremely seriously and we encourage victims and witnesses to report incidents of this nature to us.
“Please know that you will be listened to, you will be offered support and any crimes will be investigated sensitively by dedicated specialist officers.”
