A teacher mourning the death of her father was hounded with unwanted gifts and messages by an ex-boyfriend she met over the dating website Plenty of Fish.
Emma Murby, 45, had split up with company managing director Timothy Green but he bombarded her with flowers, chocolates and sent her a new vacuum cleaner in a bid to win her back.
The mother of two, who lives in the village of Eldwick, West Yorks, urged 50-year-old Green, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, to leave her alone but he left her scores of messages, a Pandora ring and even posed as one of her friends to send her a condolence card.
Emma Murby, 45, had split up with company managing director Timothy Green but he bombarded her with messages, flowers and chocolates
The couple had met online in April 2018 on Plenty of Fish and met in person for the first time at the end of that month.
In a statement Ms Murby said: ‘His behaviour made me feel distressed and I thought he was never going to stop contacting me.
‘I was worried his behaviour was going to escalate. I was going through a difficult time with the death of my father and his behaviour made my life more stressful.’
Police eventually arrested the former golf club boss for harassment.
At Stockport Magistrates Court, Green, who runs a company which provides safety inspections, admitted harassment and was banned from contacting Miss Murby for two years under the terms of a restraining order.
The couple had met online in April 2018 on Plenty of Fish and met in person for the first time at the end of that month.
Green left her scores of messages, a Pandora ring and even posed as one of her friends to send her a condolence card
Prosecutor Mark Pritchard said: ‘They then had a long-distance relationship where the defendant was living in Wilmslow and the complainant was living in Eldwick. They spent time together at weekends and sometimes met up in the week.
‘At this point the complainant says it was a normal relationship and that she was happy.
‘In August last year she moved in with him for a short period of time and their relationship became strained.
‘She moved back and after some time the relationship ended. That is when the defendant began his unrelenting course of harassment towards his victim.’
The prosecutor said on March 27 Ms Murby told police she had broken up with the defendant but he continued to contact her. He continued to send flowers and leave voicemails asking her to call him.
‘She replied saying ‘I am blocking your calls and voicemails don’t call me again. Stop harassing me. Leave me alone we are not together any more. Do not contact me anywhere.’
Despite her requests, he left her 63 messages in March, 28 in April and seven in May.
After the victim’s father died he sent messages to her reporting to be her friend Nick and sent her a condolence card.
On the day of her father’s funeral he messaged her saying he had been in a dark place and continued to send messages and cards after from a number of different accounts on Plenty of Fish – which all used the same photograph of him.
‘On 27 May he sent a vacuum cleaner part to her address which she believes he did to have a reason to contact her.
Green told police he believed Ms Murby had PTSD and she was blaming him for it
‘Between 15 June and 20 June this year he contacted a friend of the victim numerous times asking about her.
‘On 29 June he sent her a Pandora ring which she had owned when they were together with tape attached to it.’
Green later told police he thought Miss Murby had PTSD and that she was blaming him for it. He said he blamed her for him being on anti-depressants.
In mitigation his lawyer Steven McHugh said: ‘He is mortified at the position he is in today. He fears going to prison and is taking things seriously.
‘He is not looking for favours and is realistic. The last point of contact was on 28 June and he wishes to move on with his life.
‘He does not object to the restraining order. He does not wish to reacquaint himself with the complainant.
‘He did not threaten her when he contacted her and had a mistaken belief that contacting her would resurrect the relationship.
‘He pleaded guilty at he earliest opportunity and accepts there was no provocation at all.’
Green was also ordered to complete a 12 month community order, 20 rehabilitation requirement days and 80 hours of unpaid work.
He was also ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £95 victim surcharge.
Sentencing chairman of the bench Mayur Shah said: ‘This is history, put this behind you. You have got a life, business and two children. It is done, you have learnt your lesson and you will be punished.’