'Unbearable' Wakefield ex stalked woman and threatened to burn down her family's home
A drunk who downed a bottle of vodka a day threatened his ex with a knife and told her he would burn down her parents’ home.
Damien Gomola became so obsessive and paranoid that he would demand the woman talk with him over video calls to prove she was not with anyone else, Leeds Crown Court heard.
The 36-year-old was given a suspended sentence after his barrister said that he “clearly needed help”, having spent the past five months on remand.
He had been a relationship with the woman since the end of 2024 but she was concerned by his drinking.
After he lost his job, he asked to move in with the woman where his behaviour “became more unbearable”, turning violent and “nasty”, prosecutor Lydia Carroll said.
He would call her up to 30 times a day and make threats to kill her. During one episode, he picked up a kitchen knife and jabbed it towards her.
Ms Carroll said: “She was absolutely in fear of her life that she was going to be stabbed.”
She ended the relationship in July last year.
She contacted the police and told them he had made threats to torch her parents’ home.
But on August 11, she was at her parents’ home, when her sister received 16 calls from Gomola who was outside the property and shouting more threats.
He was arrested but refused to answer police questions.
Gomola, of Greenwood Road, Wakefield, was initially charged with several offences, but he eventually admitted stalking with a fear of violence, taking all matters into account.
He has a previous conviction for harassment against a woman. He appeared in court over a video link from HMP Leeds.
Mitigating, Erin Kitson-Parker said Polish Gomola had come to the UK in 2008 and had “generally worked” since then.
She said alcohol was the “catalyst” and added: “He is ashamed of his behaviour. He has been in jail since August and it appears he has learned his lesson.
“He wants to change his life. Clearly he needs help.”
Judge Simon Phillips KC gave him a 24-month sentence, suspended for 24 months, with a nine-month alcohol-treatment requirement and 15 rehabilitation days to complete with probation.