Yahoo News Dad's threat to 'annihilate' ex in terrifying harassment campaign
A dad threatened to 'annihilate' his ex partner as part of a campaign of harassment which saw him send dozens of messages. Aaron Wheeler had been handed a non-molestation order against his former girlfriend.
But Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard the 36-year-old regarded it as 'just a piece of paper' and contacted his victim 73 times, including 31 voicemails between August to December 2023.
In the messages he made threats to 'fight, assault and annihilate' her current partner, as well as threatening to 'annihilate' her.
Some of the voicemails stated: “You're f****** with my head. I’m in the car with my mate. If you carry on I’ll f****** annihilate you. I’ll knock you the f*** out on your own doorstep and I’ll knock out your old man.”
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The court heard the defendant has two children with his ex but was stopped from seeing them due to his drug taking. He would switch from calling his ex offensive names to leaving messages saying: “I’d do anything to see you. I miss you and the kids and wish I could see you and the kids again. I’ll always love you.”
Wheeler, of Edensor Terrace, Longton, pleaded guilty to harassment causing fear of violence.
A victim impact statement read out in court said: “I’ve been living in constant fear from threats of violence towards me which made me isolate myself for fear of my friend’s safety. He has threatened my family who I love dearly.
"I only stopped him from seeing our children because of drug problems. I’ve had statuses posted on Facebook about me. I’ve had a camera put up on my property, and I ask who it is before I open the front door. I’ve had to change my habits out of fear.
"When I go to bed I fear I haven't locked the door. I don’t answer the phone if I don't have the number. Whilst he’s out of custody I do not feel safe. I just want to move on with me and my family.”
Judge Michael Maher sentenced Wheeler to six months in prison, suspended for 18 months, with 150 hours unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity requirement for 15 days. He was also made the subject of a restraining order which bans him from contacting his victim or going to her street for two years.
Judge Maher said: "You were in a relationship with your victim for four years. It ended in 2020. She stopped that relationship because of the misery your drug taking was inflicting on her and indirectly on all of the family. You simply could not accept that the relationship had come to an end."
The judge said Wheeler dismissed the non-molestation order his ex took out against him saying, 'it was just a piece of paper'. He said the offences were aggravated because, after October 13, Wheeler was on bail and he was also subject to the non-molestation order.
