A woman studying at university who was in love called her ex-boyfriend 100 times a day and threatened to end his life unless he restarted their broken romance.
Hope Sheekey, 29, used 12 different phone numbers phones and a variety of social media accounts to repeatedly bother and disturb Emilio Aguero over a two-month period before ultimately making a threat to stab him when he did not reply.
In a disturbing message sent to Mr Aguero, who studied modern languages at Chester University, Sheekey wrote, ‘I have a knife. I am going to kill you. I want to see you.’
The incident prompted the Spanish national to contact Greater Manchester police, saying he was living in fear of encountering Sheekey and had become afraid to use the front door to his home in case he found her waiting for him.
Sheekey later pleaded guilty to harassment at Warrington magistrates court and was given a restraining order which prevented her from contacting Mr Aguero for 12 months. She was also fined £266 and ordered to pay £234 costs.
The court heard the harassment began after Mr Aguero ended the couple’s relationship over a phone call in October of last year saying he had ‘fallen out of love’ with Sheekey.
But in response she was said to have been bombarded with ‘100s’ of messages and phone calls and when he blocked her number, she used numerous unknown and restricted phone numbers to keep contacting him.
Miss Sarah McInerney, prosecuting, said: ‘She stated that she was coming to Manchester to see him. He told her not to and blocked her number but she received multiple calls from some unknown numbers. There were more than 100 calls on that day.
‘In all twelve different numbers were used, including restricted numbers. The defendant also began to contact him on social media, such as Facebook where she was blocked too.
‘Due to being constantly contacted at 11.30pm the victim messaged the defendant saying, ‘I do not want to see you’ but the messaging continued. She continued to call the victim’s family and at one point she said, “I have a knife. I am going to kill you. I want to see you.”
‘On November 8, the victim began receiving multiple calls again. He answered one call and she stated that it was her. On that day he received around 95 calls.
‘When questioned by police the defendant did make full admissions in the interview. She has no previous convictions but this offence is aggravated by being committed in a domestic context and there were threats made to the victim.’
In a statement Mr Aguero said: ‘The situation has made me feel very anxious. I had to go to the doctor for my mental health and I had to ring the police. I am anxious especially because she said she had a knife and said she was going to kill me.
'I worry that one day I may go outside and see her with a knife. I have stopped using the front entrance of the building because of this.'
In defense, Sheekey's attorney John Black stated: 'This woman has a good reputation and admitted the accusation when she first appeared before your colleagues.
'She was questioned by the police and fully acknowledged the accusation. She completely acknowledges that her actions were incorrect and unsuitable.'
'The victim's statement was made in November and there has been no communication between the parties since then. As for the restraining order, there is no problem. There is no intention to have any contact.'
Sheekey was also given a 12-month community order with the requirement to undergo mental health treatment if found suitable. She was also instructed to complete 20 days of rehabilitative activities.
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