PENZANCE MAN JAILED FOR SINISTER STALKING CAMPAIGN AGAINST EX-PARTNER
A man driven by jealousy and paranoia, who subjected his former partner to a series of increasingly threatening and disturbing messages during a persistent stalking campaign, has been sentenced to prison.Marcus Harbison’s relentless emotional abuse and escalating threats made his ex-partner feel physically ill and kept her on edge whenever she went to work.
Harbison’s stalking escalated to the point where he told the woman he would take his own life and blame her, threatened to break a brick through her window, and even placed a bomb in her vehicle.
He appeared before Truro Crown Court on June 27 to face sentencing on five counts of intentional strangulation, two assaults by beating, threats to share an intimate image or video, and stalking that caused her to fear violence.
The court was informed that Harbison, from Penzance’s Treneere Road, had met his victim at the Land’s End Hotel, where they both worked and began a relationship.
This relationship ended after a violent incident at a staff party when he was intoxicated and abusive.
Despite the breakup, Harbison continued to harass her—sending constant texts and calls, parking outside her residence, and following her to her new home and workplace.
He would send flowers to her workplace, wait for her in the lobby, follow her home, and demand to stay overnight.
When she refused, he grabbed her by the throat and issued threats.
Her testimony revealed she felt constantly watched and anxious, and her mental health suffered due to his intimidating behavior.
His defense lawyer explained that Harbison’s actions were partly driven by grief over the death of his wife after 40 years of marriage, which contributed to his relapse into alcohol misuse.
Harbison has a criminal record with 21 convictions across 77 offenses.
He was sentenced to 30 months in prison, and a restraining order was issued to keep him away from his victim.
The judge described his stalking as 'sinister and disturbing' and underscored the emotional damage inflicted.
