A Blyth man has been sentenced to 30 months in prison after a campaign of harassment that left his ex-partner driven to self-harm.
Scott Fearman, 41, persistently breached a restraining order and bombarded the woman with hundreds of messages and calls, despite being previously jailed for similar offences.
Campaign of Harassment
Fearman was released from prison for breaching a restraining order but quickly resumed contact with his ex-partner, refusing to accept the end of their six-year relationship. He repeatedly declared his love for her, sending relentless messages and causing significant distress.
The court heard how the constant harassment became overwhelming for the victim, leading her to self-harm. Police found her in a distressed state in August last year, after yet another breach of the order.
Kevin Wardlaw, prosecuting, said:
“She was driven to self-harm due to the contact and couldn’t cope with the volume of calls and texts. There were hundreds of messages as [Fearman] struggled to come to terms with the fact the relationship was over.”
Repeated Offences and Sentencing
Fearman had already been jailed twice for previous breaches of the order. He was originally sentenced to 10 weeks in prison in 2022 for harassment, followed by another nine-month sentence last year for continued breaches.
Despite these sentences, he contacted the woman just 10 days after being released on licence.
Recorder Richard Herrmann, sentencing Fearman at Newcastle Moot Hall, described his actions as “troubling” and imposed an indefinite restraining order to prevent further contact.
Fearman’s defence lawyer, Nigel Hedley, claimed his client had “no malice” and did not intend harm, but struggled to accept the end of the relationship.
Legal and Community Response
The case has once again highlighted the dangers of domestic harassment and the impact it can have on victims. Authorities urge anyone facing similar abuse to seek support and report incidents to the police.
If you or someone you know is experiencing harassment or domestic abuse, support is available through Refuge (0808 2000 247) and other local support services.
