MAN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR CAMPAIGN OF HARASSMENT AND SHARING INTIMATE VIDEOS
Lee Mairs, a 40-year-old man from Clapgate Crescent, Widnes, has pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to a campaign of harassment, which involved sending intimate videos of his ex-girlfriend to her family and friends.The court heard that Mairs subjected his ex-girlfriend to relentless harassment over two months after their breakup, including repeated calls, threatening messages, and physical intimidation.
Between April and June of the previous year, he called her over 800 times within a two-week span, appeared at her home late at night banging on the door, and hacked into her social media account to post offensive messages.
Despite being warned by police and ordered not to contact her, Mairs continued his harassment, including contacting her friend and attempting to coerce her into dropping the charges, and sending an indecent video of her to her sister.
He also created a fake Instagram account to send the intimate video to her family.
Mairs was re-arrested after breaching bail conditions, and a non-molestation order was issued, which he also violated by sending threats.
The victim reported suffering mental health issues including panic attacks and a breakdown, describing her experience as "mental torture" that profoundly affected her life.
The court sentenced Mairs to 37 months in prison and imposed a lifetime restraining order prohibiting him from contacting the victim.
The judge emphasized the severe psychological distress caused to her and her family and condemned his conduct as "appalling and prolonged."
