Stalker ex threatened to kill Leeds woman and 'chop' her up
A stalker who threatened to kill his ex girlfriend and made gruesome comments about “chopping” her up has avoided custody.
Kevin Novak had controlled what the woman wore and resorted to violence during their turbulent relationship.
Leeds Crown Court heard that Hungarian Novak had known the woman from school before starting a relationship in 2021, before having a child together.
But five months into her pregnancy, Novak became controlling, dictated if she could wear make-up and certain clothes and isolated her from family and friends.
His violence was exacerbated by his drug addiction, prosecutor Bashir Ahmed said.
In January 2023, the woman moved back to her mother’s home.
In September 2025 she found out he was seeing another woman so she ended their relationship, by which time his drug use had become “acute”.
The 23-year-old turned up at his partner’s mother’s home and sent multiple Snapchat messages calling her vile names.
He would also be seen walking up and down her street in Beeston.
He chillingly messaged: “I’m going to kill you and chop you.”
He told her that if he could not have her, nobody could, and that he was content to go to prison.
Novak even messaged her 17 times while she was on the phone to the police reporting him.
Novak, of no fixed address, was arrested on November 14 last year and initially denied the allegations.
He has two previous convictions for four offences, including an ABH and a road-traffic offence.
He admitted stalking and making threats to kill.
Mitigating, Rhianydd Clement said Novak had been on remand since November.
No further details were disclosed after Judge Ray Singh said he would not keep him locked up.
Judge Singh was concerned that a probation report suggested Novak still blamed the victim for his behaviour.
Despite this, he gave him a 12-month sentence, suspended for 18 months.
He ordered he complete a 26-session domestic-violence awareness programme, 20 rehabilitation days with probation and 120 hours of unpaid work.
He also gave him a five-year restraining order to prevent him contacting his ex partner.