A stalker advertised his ex-girlfriend on a swinging website after proposing to her using bedsheets on the East Lancs Road.
Ian Blackburn, of Riding Hill Road, Knowsley, was sentenced at Liverpool Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, February 8, after he admitted to stalking involving serious alarm or distress. The 62-year-old was said to have posted information of his ex-girlfriend of three months, Louise McManaman, on a website called Fab Swingers where she received explicit images from strangers.
The court heard Blackburn also proposed to Ms McManaman using bedsheets on the East Lancs Road, which the ECHO covered at the time, and would ring her portable dog grooming business using false numbers to book in dogs. Ms McManaman has since taken her business off social media and put her home up for sale in an attempt to escape the harassment of Blackburn.
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The prosecution explained the couple were in a relationship from the end of 2021 to the beginning of last year before Ms McManaman ended it with Blackburn. This led to him becoming "obsessed" and stalking the mum.
Blackburn had one former conviction prior to pleading guilty. Emily Comber, prosecuting, read out Ms McManaman's victim impact statement which said: "[You have] led me to a point where I have had to put my home up for sale and relocated my business.
"I should not have to live in this much fear in my own home."
During the months of stalking last year, Ms McManaman is said to have had security cameras installed on her home and work van due to "distress" caused by her ex-partner. Chelsea Kearns, defending, said: "The security system was put in place during the relationship and in fact he helped fix it during the relationship."
She added: "He did express his remorse. He began this course of contact to rekindle the relationship. He is both keen and willing to work with the rehabilitation service."
As district judge Wendy Lloyd sentenced Blackburn, she said: "You were a coward and you wanted to wait and see if she turned up to court. You didn't show any remorse.
"Apart from the three months of stalking, you have brought her here to court. You originally contested that none of this brought her any distress. This is the behaviour of a jilted 12-year-old. You became completely obsessed."
Judge Lloyd sentenced Blackburn to six months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months and handed him a 10-year restraining order meaning he cannot go anywhere near where he suspects Ms McManaman may be. Blackburn was also told he must attend a building better relationships programme, 15 rehabilitation sessions and 200 hours of unpaid work.
Blackburn was also requested to pay prosecution costs of £500, £3,000 in compensation to Ms McManaman and a victim surcharge of £156.
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