A sick and twisted abuser stole the ashes of his former girlfriend's dad, before threatening to "scatter them" for her, a court has heard.
Michael King, 33, snatched a memory box containing the remains of his ex-girlfriends dad and grandfather from her home, but sadly they have never been found.
The 33-year-old - who now has convictions against three former partners - most horrifyingly told his most recent significant other that he would 'turn her life upside-down'.
Birmingham Crown Court went on to hear that King also threatened to punch his lover's mum, bombarded her with messages, and shockingly followed her in his car.
The dad-of-two, appearing from jail while serving a 29 month term for harassment and criminal damage against another woman, was found guilty of theft and two counts of harassment.
Sentencing King to 25 months for his latest offences, Judge Sarah Buckingham described him as an "angry and bitter man" who gives "all decent men a bad name".
And before imposing a five-year restraining order to protect the victim and her family, Ms Buckingham added: "You have no shame and no embarrassment at all."
The court went on to hear that the horrific incidents all took place after the ex-girlfriend found out about King's violent past, including a history of domestic abuse against two previous girlfriends, through Clare's Law.
Clare’s Law has been named after Clare Wood who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend in 2009, aged 36. The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, gives anyone the right to ask police if they believe they or someone they know is in a relationship with an individual that could be abusive towards them.
In prosecuting, Mr Salsby said that the discovery made via the scheme 'may have been the cause' of their initial breakup in May 2019, report Birmingham Live.
He told the court: "The injured party lived in Manchester and was in a relationship with him for 18 months. She was informed by Clare's Law that he has a history of domestic violence with previous partners.
"He sent her a message threatening to punch her mother's face. He turned up to her place of work, followed her as she drove off.
"He forced her to stop her car, he followed her back to her place of work, sent her a message stating that he had 'tried to be nice to you, now stuff is gone. I'm going to scatter your dad's ashes for you.'"
The court was then told that the victim went back to the address they shared, where she was horrified to find he had "stolen trainers, a laptop and hair straighteners, alongside a memory box with her father's and grandfather's ashes inside."
"They have all gone missing," the prosecutor added, stating the ashes had never been recovered.
He added that "She received a message to say he was boiling the kettle for her to make sugar water," explaining it is "commonly used" in prison as it "intensifies the burning on the skin".
The prosecutor also told the court that King: "Told her he would turn her life upside-down, that while he didn't want to hurt her that he would hurt her."
Despite this, King demanded money from his former partner, telling her that she "owed it to him".
In a victim impact statement, his former partner said: "I feel like I constantly look over my shoulder.
"I also feel my social and work life has been affected, I have to move my vehicle when I go out. I constantly feel the need to look at black vehicles or van with the fear I might come across Michael when I'm out."
Meanwhile on 6 September, King breached bail conditions to send the victim a message on WhatsApp.
But following this, she blocked him on "every conceivable platform she could think of," Mr Salsby said.
In a second incident, she was again followed in her car and King "tried to block her" with his car.
There was a "small collision", the court heard, where she dialled 999, and King was later arrested and found guilty - in his absence, of two counts of harassment and one count of theft.
Defending, Miss Ashley said that King accepted his past history "all makes a very unattractive picture, his words not mine".
Adding that she had represented him previously, she said: "The man presenting to me in conference is very different.
"He has had to accept that it was necessary for him to break the cycle that he finds himself in. He is engaging with a number courses, victims awareness courses, anger management courses and further courses on parenting.
"The most significant development is that he is getting help for his mental health issues. He is a man that has suffered from PTSD and depression. I have seen a marked improvement."
She went on to explain that King hopes he will be able to get some work with his previous employer, Network Rail, after he is released from prison.
But Judge Buckingham said that: "The theft was particularly spiteful. You stole the ashes of your previous partner's father and grandfather. It was a gross breach of trust," going on to explain that King knew the code to the safe where the ashes were, and unlocked it.
The victim was, the judge said, "bombarded with messages, unwanted visits and administered with threats".
Her front door and vehicle were also damaged.
In sentencing King, Judge Buckingham told King: "It's quite obvious to me that you are unable to cope with conflict with a female partner.
"You are unable to cope with rejection, you are an angry and bitter man."
Domestic violence or abuse can happen to anyone - find out how and where to get help.
Advice from the NHS says that if you are at risk of domestic abuse or violence you can:
- talk to your doctor, health visitor or midwife
- women can call 0808 2000 247, the free 24-hour National Domestic Violence Helpline run in partnership between Women's Aid and Refuge.
- men can call the Men's Advice Line free on 0808 801 0327 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm) or ManKind on 01823 334 244
- in an emergency, call 999
