STEVEN BAXTER

The case involves a man who developed an obsessive pattern of harassment, targeting a woman, her former partner, and her child with abusive communications after his romantic relationship with her ended.

Stephen Baxter, aged 33 and living on Fairhope Avenue, Lancaster, admitted to multiple charges including harassment, assault, criminal damage, and witness intimidation at Preston Crown Court.

His former partner, in a relationship with him for eight months, was subjected to over 150 threatening or abusive phone calls and social media messages as Baxter pursued a campaign of harassment.

The relationship terminated in November, at which point she began receiving abusive and threatening messages from Baxter.

Her first response was to block his number, but he continued his campaign by sending further messages via Facebook, using an associate’s account.

He also made calls to her workplace, where her duties required her to answer all incoming calls, regardless of who was calling.

Despite these incidents, she allowed Baxter to stay at her residence for about a week in early December due to his lack of alternative accommodation.

On December 14, she was preparing for work in her bedroom when Baxter unexpectedly entered, accusing her of communicating with other men over WhatsApp.

She asked him multiple times to leave, but he persisted and entered her room repeatedly, invading her personal space.

She pushed him away, which upset him, and he reacted with clenched fists.

During the confrontation, she unintentionally poked him in the eye, and then she ran downstairs.

Baxter followed her and hit her in the ribs.

Afterwards, he sent her numerous messages asking her to take him to the hospital to check his eye.

She agreed, but at the hospital, he falsely claimed she poked his eye intentionally.

She left, but he followed her to the car.

She eventually refused to give him a lift and asked him to leave.

Baxter then damaged her phone and tore off her wing mirror.

On Christmas Eve, Baxter contacted her daughter with a message, alerting her father, who warned Baxter not to contact her further.

He then sent abusive messages to the father, threatening property damage, leading to police involvement.

He was arrested on Christmas Day.

In police interviews, Baxter claimed she was harassing him.

Although released on bail with strict contact restrictions, he immediately made over 50 threatening calls, including explicit threats to cut her face and throw acid in her face.

He demanded she retract a statement to stop the harassment, but she hung up.

He called again, demanding a retraction as a condition for ceasing his threats.

His defense lawyer, Fraser Livesey, pointed out that Baxter had already served five months in detention—equivalent to ten months in prison—and had achieved qualifications during that time.

He also remarked that Baxter appeared to have some insight into his actions.

The judge, Recorder Mukhtar Hussain QC, suspended a 15-month sentence for two years, imposed a three-year restraining order, and ordered Baxter to participate in the Building Better Relationships programme.