BLACKBURN MAN JAILED FOR HARASSMENT, STALKING AND STRANGULATION OF EX
A Blackburn man has been jailed after harassing and stalking his ex in a horrific ordeal which saw him strangle her outside a pub.Jesse Rivers, of Carnforth Close in Blackburn, was sentenced at Preston Crown Court on Monday (January 19) after pleading guilty to harassment with violence and stalking.
The court heard how Rivers, 30, had been in a six-month relationship with his victim when his offending began.
The woman said she had wanted to end the relationship after her sister had found out about previous criminal cases relating to Rivers online.
This came to a head on January 31 in 2025, when Rivers attended her home address and she asked him repeatedly to leave but he refused.
The woman left the house to post a parcel and texted him to leave by the time she was back.
When she returned he was still there, laughing and mocking her.
The complainant and her daughter pushed him out the front door, after which he damaged her windows and threatened to post sexual images of her online.
After he left, she received 152 calls from a phone number, some of which Rivers identified himself.
Threats included "her gaff is getting it tonight" and "she let the police know it's ****ing game on".
Rivers also said "she's a s*** - got the proof here" and "I will put it on my story so everyone can see it".
In another incident, a male visitor saw Rivers near her house, and after he left, Rivers punched her kitchen window while she was on the phone with police.
On March 10, Rivers approached her in a pub, shouted and punched her friend, then strangled her in an attack that had to be stopped by two men.
Following this, she received a call from Rivers and messages saying "you will live in fear for the rest of your life".
A naked picture of her circulated online with a caption calling her "the biggest s*** in Blackburn," which she believed Rivers posted.
Rivers has 25 previous convictions including harassment, ABH, controlling and coercive behaviour, and false imprisonment.
He has been in custody for eight months.
During sentencing, His Honour Judge Archer stated his displeasure at Rivers' behaviour, noting the threats, continued stalking, and the assault involving strangulation.
Rivers received a 13-month prison sentence and was ordered to stay away from the victim with a restraining order.
