STALKER CALLED HIS EX AN AVERAGE OF 325 TIMES A DAY DURING A CAMPAIGN OF THREATS AND HARASSMENT
Gerald Cole, aged 24 and residing on Great Howard Street in Liverpool, threatened a woman by promising to pour acid on her face and burn her residence during weeks of harassment while calling her from prison.After being convicted of assault and repeatedly contacting his victim during his incarceration, Cole remained silent as he was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court.
The judge expressed doubt about Cole’s remorse and noted he showed no remorse or acknowledgment of the trauma caused to the woman, who was described as emotionally vulnerable and unstable.
Prosecutor Peter Hussey explained that Cole and the woman, who has mental health issues, had been in a relationship which ended earlier in the year.
After she evicted him from her flat, Cole returned on January 5 and forced his way inside before assaulting her.
Mr.
Hussey detailed that while the woman was upstairs in her bedroom, Cole entered her home unlawfully, grabbed her around the neck, and squeezed.
She managed to break free, and her call to the police led to Cole’s arrest later that day.
Cole pleaded guilty to assault and received a 16-week jail sentence.
While serving time at HMP Altcourse, the woman started to receive a series of threatening calls from him.
Between April 5 and April 26, just before Cole’s release, she received 7,160 calls, averaging 325 daily.
These calls varied some went unanswered, others lasted only a few seconds and frequently, Cole remained silent or issued threats of violence, including promises to burn her house or have accomplices attack her.
Police body-worn footage from a visit to the woman’s home showed the emotional toll his actions had on her.
Hussey noted that her reactions reflected the impact of Cole’s calls, indicating her vulnerability.
Despite her emotional state, the woman returned Cole's calls on multiple occasions, highlighting her distress.
The court found his conduct amounted to stalking and caused serious harm.
Cole was re-arrested on May 3, days after his release, and confronted with allegations of stalking.
He initially denied the charge but changed his plea to guilty prior to trial at Liverpool Crown Court, leading to his sentencing.
Defence lawyer Brendan Carville asked the court to consider Cole’s guilty plea, which spared the woman from testifying.
However, a probation report painted a bleak picture of Cole, indicating he lacked remorse, insight, and prospects for rehabilitation and disputed parts of the woman’s account.
Judge David Aubrey QC condemned Cole’s actions, emphasising that his relentless calls not all of which involved direct contact had profoundly affected the victim, prompting her to leave her hometown.
The judge described his behaviour as a stark example of stalking’s harmful effects.
He stated, “You bombarded your victim, who was emotionally unstable and - in the court’s judgement - vulnerable, with numerous phone calls.
It may well have been that on numerous occasions there was no contact with your victim.
It may well have been that on numerous occasions the phone calls lasted seconds.
"It may well have been that on numerous occasions there was nothing said by you when the calls were answered - but it is true that on numerous occasions there were threats that you would burn her house down or throw acid at her.” Cole received a prison sentence of 16 months and was subject to a restraining order forbidding him from any contact with the victim.
