Southampton man bombarded ex with abuse leaving her 'living in fear'

Mark Jacobs started harassing his ex-partner between June and July when they split after 18 years together when she found out he had been smoking cannabis.

The 46-year-old of Napier Road, Thornhill, flooded her phone with more than 50 messages and calls, swearing at her, asking to meet her, and accusing her of seeing other men.

Southampton Magistrates' Court heard how the messages would even come through in the early hours, with Jacobs asking for her to come to his house for sex.

The woman, who the Echo is not naming, said in a court statement that Jacobs had been “the man [she] fell in love with”.

But she realised during therapy before the harassment that he had been abusive. In her statement in court she said she was "shouted at, strangled, gaslighted".

Mark Jacobs. (Image: Supplied.)

She said: “For a long time I was on medication. It played havoc with my mental health.

“After our separating, I was frequently scared to go home. I’m constantly living in fear of bumping into him."

The pair married in 2009 but his victim told the court abuse took place whilst they were together as well.

She added: “I lost many years to Mark and his abuse.

“I was shouted at, strangled, gaslighted. He would never do anything in our relationship.

“He made it hard to be with him but equally hard to be without him.”

Prosecutor Natalie Angel said during the harassment the victim had told Jacobs to leave her alone. Ms Angel said the messages were “manipulative, threatening and unwanted”.

Southampton Magistrates Court.

Jacobs, who was unrepresented in court, said he was sorry.

“I have just got to deal with the consequences,” he added.

“A lot of things have changed for me. I’m just trying to make my life better.

“We both need to get on with our lives."

He said he had been attending the support group ManGang for help.

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Chairman of the magistrates' bench, Nick Hawkins, said some of the messages had been “abusive and offensive”.

Mr Hawkins said the victim “clearly found it traumatic to be in receipt of those messages”.

He accepted Jacob's claims that he had been looking for support.

Jacobs admitted harassment with a two-year conditional discharge to “hang over [his] head”.

A restraining order was also granted banning him from contacting his ex-partner for the next two years.

He must also pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £26.

Magistrates did not take into account the claims of abuse in the relationship as this did not form a charge.

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