'You caused her absolute misery and terror': Stalker threatened to kill the mother of his children as she did school run

A stalker threatened to kill his former partner as she was taking their children to school during a campaign of harassment and intimidation.
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A judge told Thomas Smith he had caused his victim 'absolute misery and terror' as he was jailed for two years.

The young woman described how Smith's behaviour left her fear that he would come into her home and kill her as she was asleep.

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Leeds Crown Court heard Smith, 24, bombarded the woman with phone calls and texts on the same day he was bailed by court after admitting stalking her.

Thomas Smith was jailed for two years for stalking his former partner.Thomas Smith was jailed for two years for stalking his former partner.
Thomas Smith was jailed for two years for stalking his former partner.

Polly Clegg, prosecuting, said Smith had been in a relationship with the woman for five years and they had three children.

Their relationship broke down after he was released from prison and his behaviour towards her changed.

The offending began on October 29 last year when Smith turned up outside the woman's home in Armley and he banged loudly on her door demanding to be let in.

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He turned up at the property the following day and again repeatedly banged on the door.

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She saw Smith in the street and he ordered her to go home before forcing his way into a taxi with her.

Later that day she left her home to get cough medicine for one her children and he was sat on the doorstep.

Smith told her: "You are never getting away from me."

The defendant rang her nine times on October 26 and the woman left her home to stay with her mother as she was so frightened.

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Smith turned up at the victim's home the next day and appeared to be under the influence of drugs.

She called the police but Smith left before they arrived.

As the woman was talking to officers she received a text which stated: "Police called. See what happens next."

Smith was arrested later that day.

He was given bail at Leeds Crown Court on November 26 but continued to target the woman later that day.

Smith went to her home and demanded cigarettes and food.

He told her: "You got me put on tag for over a year you s***. How am I going to see my kids."

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Smith then sent sinister text messages from his mother's partner's phone on December 9.

One read: "I am going to pretend it's all a big game from now on. See you on the school run. To be honest I feel like killing you."

The woman dropped her children off at school the next morning and was confronted in the street by Smith as she talked to her sister on her phone as she walked to work.

Smith demanded to know who she was talking to then called her a "lying s***'.

The next day the victim saw Smith on a bike in her street.

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She took a picture of him on her phone and sent it to the police.

Later that day he sent a text warning her that she was "playing with fire".

He also told her to take the children out of the house as he was "coming for her."

Smith, of Mistress Avenue, Armley, pleaded guilty to two counts of stalking and one of harassment.

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A victim statement was read to the court on behalf of the mum.

She said: "I am feeling depressed and I am scared to take my children to school.

"All these incidents are making me feel depressed.

"I am unable to live my life.

"I am a 23-year-old with three kids and he has made me isolated.

"I am afraid he will assault me or kill me when I'm asleep.

"He is very predictable when on drugs."

The woman said Smith took amphetamines and would stand on the field over the road from her home and watch the house.

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She added: "I believe this will escalate and he will cause me serious injury.

"I feel like I am unable to leave the house and live a normal life."

Michael Walsh, mitigating, said Smith now accepted that the relationship was over and he wanted to address his behaviour.

Mr Walsh said Smith had pleaded guilty to the offences at an early stage.

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Jailing Smith for two years, Judge Simon Phillips QC described some of the messages he sent as "chilling."

He said: "You have caused her absolute misery and terror."

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