A 34-year-old man has been given a community order for harassing a Budleigh Salterton woman after the breakdown of their “short-lived” relationship.
Kym Lovegrove, of Normandy Close, Exmouth, pleaded guilty to harassment without violence between May 14 and June 13 last year, when he appeared at Exeter Magistrates’ Court.
The court heard the two parties met at a mutual friend’s party and began chatting on a dating site. The prosecution said they began seeing each other but after a few weeks the victim “had second thoughts”, and informed him she wanted space.
The prosecution said Lovegrove repeatedly accused her of cheating and often called her a “slag” for having slept with more people than him. He made threats of violence, calling her racial slurs and a “bitch”. On one occasion he sent a message that said: “I’m going to rape you.”
The court heard he tried to reach her by contacting her mother, and Ring doorbell footage captured him attending the victim’s address on two separate occasions, though the two didn’t interact.
The victim said at one time she was receiving WhatsApp messages “every 30 seconds”, adding that she felt scared for her safety as well as that o her mother.
Michaela Rose, mitigating, said: “These two were in a very short-lived relationship, if you can even call it that.”
Miss Rose added that he is “extremely remorseful” and acknowledges that he behaved inappropriately during mental health episodes and substance abuse.
The court heard that when Lovegrove attended the victim’s address, it was to deliver an “apology present.”
District Judge Smith said: “You indicated in your report that you have no memory of these offences due to blackouts and your mental health. I don’t believe that you fully don’t remember. I feel you were using this as a defensive shield.”
Lovegrove was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days as well as an alcohol treatment requirement for three months.
An 18-month restraining order was also imposed, preventing Lovegrove from contacting the victim or attending any property she may be staying at.
He will also be subject to an electronically monitored curfew for four months, and will have to pay a victim surcharge of £114 and costs of £85.
This story was produced via the Police & Crime Commissioner’s Criminal Justice Court Reporting scheme.
