A South Yorkshire stalker who preyed upon two ex-partners has been caged

Sheffield Crown Court heard on March 11 how Luke Anderson, aged 28, of Heelis Street, Barnsley, admitted two counts of sending offensive messages to his long-term ex-partner and stalking her and also admitted breaching a restraining order concerning his more recent ex-partner as well as sending her offensive messages and stalking her.

Recorder David Gordon told Anderson: “Women deserve to live their lives not in fear of their ex-partners phoning, contacting them, stalking them, making their lives a misery - issuing threats.”

Temitayo Dasaolu, prosecuting, said Anderson’s long-term ex-partner received messages saying her new boyfriend must stay away from her children or he would kill him and the defendant sent further messages with threats.

Ms Dasaolu added that his long-term ex’s new partner also received a Facebook message warning him not to go near the children or he would kill him.

Anderson also called his long-term ex-partner on a withheld number and she received more calls, according to Ms Dasaolu.

Ms Dasaolu said the defendant also sent a message to his more recent ex-girlfriend saying he knew who her new boyfriend was and “he’s dead” even though he had already been convicted of stalking this ex-partner and had been given a restraining order.

This complainant received 35 emails from Anderson, according to Ms Dasaolu, and he called her 98 times and a friend of the complainant’s received a message saying he wanted to contact her and the complainant received a message asking if she had called the police.

Lorena Veale, defending, said: “Around the time of the offending, Mr Anderson had been suffering with anxiety and depression and suicidal thoughts.”

She added labourer Anderson who had a traumatic up-bringing is extremely ashamed and understands these women would have been left very upset and he is very sorry.

Recorder Gordon told Anderson: “Your behaviour towards these two ex-partners was disgraceful. It was frightening and it was persistent and only an immediate custodial sentence can be justified.”

He sentenced Anderson to 21 months of custody after the defendant had committed the offences between December, 2020, and January, 2021.

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