A security guard harassed his ex-girlfriend before searching for her in a supermarket she works at.
Ricky Sparks, 40, pleaded guilty to harassment at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Monday (7 January).
Prosecutor Keith Ballinger said the defendant, of Buckhurst Crescent, Walcot, had been in a relationship with the woman for nearly three years.
On 29 December, she ended the romance and contacted the police to make numerous allegations against him – the nature of which were not heard in court.
Sparks was subsequently arrested and, after spending time in custody, released under investigation on bail with conditions not to contact his alleged victim.
After he was released from the cells on 30 December, he immediately began a campaign of harassment.
He sent her dozens of messages stating he was worried about the allegations she had made, that he was concerned his children would be taken into care and that he was scared of going to prison.
He also called her more than one hundred times — 74 times whilst she was at work for several hours and her phone was in her locker.
In other messages, sent over two days, he said “I miss you”, “I still love you”, and that he will try and respect her decision to break off the relationship.
But Sparks couldn’t respect her decision and arrived at Sainsbury’s in Bridgemead, where his victim works, and started searching for her. Her colleagues – who knew the defendant – informed her and she called the police to report his concerning behaviour.
When he was arrested, he made a significant comment to police. He said: “Yes, I’ve done wrong, I’ve sent her a few messages”, Mr Ballinger added.
In an interview, he told the officers he found the ending of their relationship hard, and claimed he did not realise sending those messages were a serious crime.
In a victim impact statement, the woman, who has been signed of work with depression following the events, said his actions “affected me greatly”.
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She said the harassment has caused her to feel vulnerable, anxious and nervous all of the time, and she has not left the house alone since the incident over fears he made accost her.
“All I want is for him to leave me and my family alone, I want nothing to do with him”, she wrote.
Emma Thacker, defending, said the allegations had been “strung on him” after spending Christmas together and making plans to get married.
“He had no idea what was going on and that’s why he sent the messages”, she told the court.
“None were threatening or abusive, they were effectively begging messages.”
She said Sparks works full-time at BWM and at weekends, works as a security guard.
Magistrates sentenced him to a 18-month community order with a requirement to complete the Building Better Relationships Programme and undertake 10 rehabilitation activity days.
A restraining order was imposed for 12 months, prohibiting Sparks from contacting his victim directly or indirectly, visiting her home address or visiting Bridgemead Retail Park.
He must also pay costs of £85 and a £95 surcharge.
