A man who stalked his ex-girlfriend, using Snapchat maps to follow her on holiday to the Eden Valley, has been spared an immediate prison sentence.
Joe Morrissey, 23, was in a two-year relationship with the woman before they split.
But in May, while she was staying near Penrith with a new partner, she received unwanted contact from Morrissey, Carlisle Crown Court heard today.
She responded to one text message by saying: “We aren’t together. Leave me alone.”
Morrissey — who had earlier visited her home address and spoken with her mum — indicated he was in the Eden area and wished to talk. And on May 21 as the woman and her current partner left for home, they approached the main A686 road and saw Morrissey in his van nearby.
Morrissey turned and followed the woman’s vehicle bumper to bumper while sounding the horn. Prosecutor Ben Stanley said: “The defendant pulled alongside her vehicle, driving on the wrong side of the road to try and get level. She tried to speed up and he tried to swerve her off the road.”
Morrissey, of Gwernaffield, near Mold, North Wales, then managed to get in front of her vehicle, slamming on his brakes and causing the Wirral-based woman to fear she would crash.
When she later drove into a dead end, Morrissey got out, tapped on her window and hit his hands on the bonnet. But he was arrested by police and in court admitted dangerous driving and stalking charges. When interviewed, he spoke of locating the woman through Snapchat maps and waiting in a layby on the road side for her to drive past.
In an impact statement, the woman described now being terrified to leave her house, suffering panic attacks and flashbacks. “I see the manic look of hatred in his eyes,” she stated. “I still think to this day that he could kill me. It’s burned into my head like a photograph.”
Morrissey had no previous convictions. He was said by his barrister to have been foolish but now accepted the relationship was over. “This is a decent young man who has made an error of judgement,” said Robert Elias, defending. “He has learned his lesson.”
Judge Richard Archer suspended a six-month prison term for two years, concluding there was a realistic prospect of Morrissey mending his ways. He must complete a rehabilitation requirement, 100 hours’ unpaid work and a building better relationships course. In addition he was banned from driving for a year and handed a seven-year restraining order.
