Thomas Bassett (pictured) has been banned from contacting his ex-lover for five years
A besotted boyfriend has been banned from contacting his ex-lover for five years and has been ordered to pay her £150 damages after he admitted sending more than 1,000 emails begging for them to get back together.
Thomas Bassett, from Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, sent 100 of his messages to Bethany Anderson in a single day and left her in such fear for her safety she changed the locks to her home and refused to go out.
Bassett, 26, created 11 different email accounts between February and April this year so he could continue hounding Miss Anderson even after she blocked him.
He also messaged her via Instagram and sent her a handwritten letter as well as a Moonpig card with photos of them together asking to rekindle their romance.
Bassett, attending Manchester Magistrates’ Court, admitted stalking and was prohibited from contacting Miss Anderson under the terms of a restraining order.
He was also sentenced to 26 weeks jail suspended for two years, ordered to complete a ‘Building Better Relationships’ programme and pay £213 in costs.
The court heard the pair had begun dating in 2018 but broke up in February 2021.
Prosecutor Miss Tess Kenyon said: ‘They had temporarily split up in the summer of 2019 but got back together although she says he was manipulative in them resuming their relationship.
‘After the February split, the defendant sent apologetic messages to the complainant and he hinted at suicide trying to make her feel responsible.
‘He sent photos from the back of her home address and it made the complainant so worried, she felt the need to change the locks.
‘The defendant sent over 100 messages on 4 February until she blocked the number. The defendant the left a voicemail asking to get back with him and to sort things out. She then changed her number.
‘As a result the defendant created 10 more email accounts to send further messages and pictures to the complainant. Over a period of two months, he sent at least 587 emails as well as trying to message her via Instagram.
‘On February 24, the defendant sent a hand written letter. In it he said he was sorry for his behaviour. He also sent a Moonpig card with photos of them together asking for her to get back with him.
‘As a result she says she feels scared. This clearly had a significant impact on her.’
Bassett, attending Manchester Magistrates’ Court (pictured), admitted stalking and was prohibited from contacting Miss Anderson under the terms of a restraining order
Miss Anderson, of Bolton, Greater Manchester, eventually passed the messages to police before Bassett messaged again saying: ‘F***ing me over some more? I can’t believe you grassed to the police, well done.
‘Why did you go to the police, I am absolutely f***ed, goodbye my lover.’
In a statement the victim said: ‘I just feel scared as he said he was “going to get me” – whatever that means.
‘I feel threatened and the fact that he knows my address makes matters worse. I just wants the messages to stop and I do not want to go out.’
Bassett, who works at an Aldi supermarket, later told investigators: ‘She is the love of my life and I still love her. I just kept getting upset and angry and that is why I have my little rages.
‘I probably sent her over 1,000 emails but I love her so much. I realise now I was a bit obsessive and I understand the effect it would have had on her.’
In mitigation Bassett’s lawyer Robert Travis said: ‘He has had healthy relationships in the past but he struggled to cope with the break up in this relationship because he feels her family had adopted him and when the relationship ended, he lost a partner and contact with the family.
‘He accepts the conduct was distressing and accepts he should never contact her again. He is deeply embarrassed and ashamed by his behaviour.
‘He is working at Aldi now and is a valuable member of the team, he gets on well with all staff members.’
Sentencing District Judge Bernard Begley told Bassett: ‘You now have the threat of a prison sentence hanging over your head.’
Bassett admitted stalking and was prohibited from contacting Miss Anderson under the terms of a restraining order.
He was also sentenced to 26 weeks jail suspended for two years, ordered to complete a ‘Building Better Relationships’ programme and pay £213 in costs.