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| Stalker jailed for manslaughter of former partner who killed herself | Stalker jailed for manslaughter of former partner who killed herself |
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| A man whose campaign of threats and harassment caused his former partner to kill herself has been jailed for manslaughter. | A man whose campaign of threats and harassment caused his former partner to kill herself has been jailed for manslaughter. |
| In what is believed to be a legal first, Nicholas Allen, 47, was initially charged with coercive behaviour and stalking but Crown Prosecution Service lawyers later brought a charge of unlawful killing against him after an inquiry into Justene Reece’s death. | In what is believed to be a legal first, Nicholas Allen, 47, was initially charged with coercive behaviour and stalking but Crown Prosecution Service lawyers later brought a charge of unlawful killing against him after an inquiry into Justene Reece’s death. |
| Stafford crown court was told the 46-year-old was found hanged at her home in February after leaving a note saying she had “run out of fight” following six months of threats from Allen. | Stafford crown court was told the 46-year-old was found hanged at her home in February after leaving a note saying she had “run out of fight” following six months of threats from Allen. |
| Allen admitted manslaughter, coercive behaviour and stalking at a previous hearing. | Allen admitted manslaughter, coercive behaviour and stalking at a previous hearing. |
| The court heard that Reece set up home with Allen in Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford after meeting him at a scooter club in 2015, but within months he became increasingly obsessive and controlling. | The court heard that Reece set up home with Allen in Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford after meeting him at a scooter club in 2015, but within months he became increasingly obsessive and controlling. |
| In 2016 she left Allen to live at a women’s shelter, prompting him to begin stalking five people close to her in an attempt to track her down, the court heard. | |
| Allen, a former soldier and mechanic, of no fixed address, made about 3,500 attempts to contact Reece after they split in October. He made and sent thousands of calls, texts and messages via Facebook and WhatsApp to both Reece and members of her family, the court heard. | Allen, a former soldier and mechanic, of no fixed address, made about 3,500 attempts to contact Reece after they split in October. He made and sent thousands of calls, texts and messages via Facebook and WhatsApp to both Reece and members of her family, the court heard. |
| He visited their homes, threatened Reece’s son and posted offensive photographs of her mother’s grave online. He also contacted employers and on one occasion falsely accused a family member of serious sexual offences. | He visited their homes, threatened Reece’s son and posted offensive photographs of her mother’s grave online. He also contacted employers and on one occasion falsely accused a family member of serious sexual offences. |
| Andrew Smith QC, prosecuting, told the court Allen had numerous previous convictions for offences committed against women dating back to December 1998. | |
| They included making threats to kill, head-butting a former partner, breaking her nose, and a threat to set fire to a harassment victim’s father’s house. | They included making threats to kill, head-butting a former partner, breaking her nose, and a threat to set fire to a harassment victim’s father’s house. |
| After learning that Reece had killed herself, Allen conducted an internet search to establish whether he could be held legally responsible for the death. | After learning that Reece had killed herself, Allen conducted an internet search to establish whether he could be held legally responsible for the death. |
| Imposing a 15-year extended sentence, which includes an extra five-year period on licence, the judge, Michael Chambers QC, said Allen’s disturbing conduct had been truly appalling. | Imposing a 15-year extended sentence, which includes an extra five-year period on licence, the judge, Michael Chambers QC, said Allen’s disturbing conduct had been truly appalling. |
| He told Allen: “You clearly caused her to lose her life and before that to experience, over a protracted period of time, what must have been a living nightmare. | He told Allen: “You clearly caused her to lose her life and before that to experience, over a protracted period of time, what must have been a living nightmare. |
| “It is not suggested that you intended at any time that she should die but clearly you intended that she should suffer serious psychological harm. | “It is not suggested that you intended at any time that she should die but clearly you intended that she should suffer serious psychological harm. |
| “She committed suicide as a direct result of your sustained and determined criminal actions, actions which you clearly knew were having a profound effect upon her.” | “She committed suicide as a direct result of your sustained and determined criminal actions, actions which you clearly knew were having a profound effect upon her.” |
| Neil Mercer, mitigating, said Allen had shown remorse and was being treated at a therapeutic unit while on remand. | Neil Mercer, mitigating, said Allen had shown remorse and was being treated at a therapeutic unit while on remand. |
| Hannah Sidaway, senior crown prosecutor for West Midlands CPS, said: “This was an exceptional case. Allen subjected Justene and those close to her to a sustained campaign of torment until she was unable to endure his behaviour any longer. There is no doubt he ultimately caused her to take her own life.” | Hannah Sidaway, senior crown prosecutor for West Midlands CPS, said: “This was an exceptional case. Allen subjected Justene and those close to her to a sustained campaign of torment until she was unable to endure his behaviour any longer. There is no doubt he ultimately caused her to take her own life.” |
| The case illustrated the “devastating effect that stalking can have on victims”, Sidaway said. “It reaches into every aspect of their lives, causing acute distress and leaving them, and often their families, living in fear.” | The case illustrated the “devastating effect that stalking can have on victims”, Sidaway said. “It reaches into every aspect of their lives, causing acute distress and leaving them, and often their families, living in fear.” |