Restraining order for Telford man, 23, who bombarded his pregnant ex with Facebook messages
A Telford man who bombarded his pregnant ex-partner with hundreds of messages on Facebook after she ended their relationship has been handed a restraining order.
Jack Martin had met his ex-partner over Facebook and they mainly communicated over the social media site, although the pair met occasionally and she fell pregnant, Telford Magistrates Court was told.
Mr Adam Warner, prosecuting, said the partner ended the relationship in mid-December and "blocked" him so he could not contact her.
He said Martin instead started sending Facebook messages to a woman she was staying with until the victim "unblocked" him towards the end of December.
The court was told that Martin then sent her hundreds of messages – some of which were offensive and threatening.
The messages were predominantly asking for reconciliation but she sent him a few messages asking not to be contacted.
The court was told that the victim felt angry, upset and harassed by some of the messages she received from him.
Mr Warner said that in one of the messages, Martin told her he would kick the baby out of her.
Martin, aged 23, of Brereton, Brookside, admitted harassing the victim without violence between December 15 last year and January 5.
Mr Warner said that at no time during their relationship had she said that Martin had ever threatened or been violent towards her.
Mr Shaun Davies, representing Martin, said he had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and co-operated fully with police.
He told the court that Martin had apologised for the offensive messages he sent.
The court heard he had previous convictions for offences including stalking and making threats to kill.
Martin was handed a two-year community order, ordered to complete the building better relationships programme and 20 rehabilitation activity days. He was also given a three-year restraining order, and ordered to pay £135 costs and £85 victim surcharge.
