Phone pest ex‘s calls and texts terrify woman (From Gazette)

Phone pest ex‘s calls and texts terrify woman

10:10pm Thursday 18th March 2010 in

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A STUDENT was left terrified and distressed after she was bombarded with calls and texts from an ex-boyfriend.

The woman had panic attacks and was left feeling vulnerable after she ended a relationship with the man.

A court heard how Leon Gibbons, 28, could not accept the relationship with Colchester Institute student Kavita Ravaliaya was over.

He pestered the woman, threatening to behead her and kill her family.

The court was told that at one point he threatened to kill himself and jumped on to the railway tracks at Chelmsford station.

Gibbons even claimed to be his twin brother and told Miss Ravaliaya Leon Gibbons was dead and arrangements were being made for his funeral.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard how suspicions were raised when the so-called “twin” appeared to know too much about Gibbons and Miss Ravaliaya.

Gibbons was told by Judge David Turner that he had caused Miss Ravaliaya a great deal of misery and distress.

He said: “You could not face up to the fact, like a man, she did not want you in her life any more. You became a complete menace to her.

“Repeatedly calling her, text-ing her, making threats and acting in a way I do not doubt left her absolutely terrified.”

Gibbons admitted charges of harassment and sending threatening messages.

He was handed a six-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, and was also given a 100-hour unpaid work order.

Gibbons was also banned from entering the Colchester Institute.

Stephanie Farrimond, prosecuting, said Gibbons met Miss Ravaliaya in Spain, in the summer of 2008.

She was on a school exchange visit and he was with a youth football team. A relationship started, but Miss Ravaliaya ended it shortly after. The court heard how the student became more and more concerned as Gibbons kept calling her and sending text messages.

Gibbons, now living in Nottingham, threatened to kill himself, Miss Ravaliaya and her family.

He even went to the Colchester Institute, where Miss Ravaliaya was studying, causing her to have a panic attack.

She was escorted to a friend’s car by security staff, as Gibbons was following her.

Jamie Sawyer, mitigating, told the court Gibbons was ashamed of his behaviour.

There was never any intention to carry out any of the threats he made, Mr Sawyer said.

He said Gibbons, who has a first class honours degree, would now be unlikely to pursue a career teaching English to foreign students.