LUKE HOULLEBECQ FROM PICKERING JAILED FOR STALKING AND HARASSMENT IN DISTURBING CRIMES

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Pickering, Luke Houillebecq, a 34-year-old former soldier, has been sentenced for a series of stalking and harassment offences that targeted his ex-partner. The court heard that Houillebecq’s relentless campaign of intimidation and harassment was fueled by his inability to accept the end of their brief relationship, which lasted approximately five months.

According to prosecutor Brooke Morrison, the relationship between Houillebecq and the victim concluded in October of the previous year, following an incident where Houillebecq was arrested on suspicion of assaulting her. Despite being released on bail with strict conditions that prohibited any contact or approach towards her, Houillebecq immediately violated these restrictions. He initiated multiple phone calls to the victim, who chose not to answer, demonstrating his persistent attempts to reconnect despite the legal restrictions.

Over the following days, the victim was subjected to a barrage of unwanted communication. She received eight calls from an unknown number within a span of three and a half hours, which she finally answered out of curiosity. Upon answering, she recognized Houillebecq’s voice, who greeted her with a casual “Hiya” and laughter before she promptly hung up. The harassment escalated two days later when she received 29 calls, mostly from withheld numbers, along with a Facebook message containing deeply offensive language and threats implying she deserved “everything that comes.”

Police officers responded to her home in Pickering to take her statement. However, shortly after their departure, she was again targeted with a series of calls from another withheld number. She eventually answered one of these calls, during which she heard Houillebecq threatening her, saying, “You are going to get it.” She then hung up but continued to receive 25 more calls throughout the day, choosing not to answer them.

Further distress was caused when, on October 22, the victim discovered her Disney+ account had been hacked. Her profile name was changed to a deeply offensive personal slur, which she believed was the work of Houillebecq. She had previously shared her login details with him, and notifications from Facebook indicated that someone had attempted to access her account on three separate occasions, raising her suspicions about his involvement.

Two days later, while she was at a wine bar in Pickering with friends, she received another call from a withheld number. Moments afterward, she saw Houillebecq standing outside the establishment. This sighting led to his arrest once again, and he was formally charged with stalking and battery. Although he admitted to the stalking, the prosecution chose to drop the assault charge and did not pursue further evidence on that matter.

Houillebecq, a father of three residing on Rye Close, appeared via video link for sentencing after being remanded in custody over the Christmas period. The court was informed that he had a history of similar offences, with five previous convictions for eight offences, including a pattern of harassing former partners by bombarding them with hundreds of calls from various numbers. One such incident involved 67 calls in a single day. His criminal record also includes convictions for carrying an offensive weapon and threatening behaviour.

In 2022, Houillebecq received an 18-month community order for these offences. The recent offences, which occurred during the breach of that community order and his bail conditions, resulted in his being sentenced to serve time in the community. The case highlights a troubling pattern of behaviour that has caused significant distress to the victim and underscores the importance of legal measures to protect individuals from such persistent harassment.