Sheffield stalker's "worry and mayhem" made victim lose three stones in weight

A Sheffield man who stalked his ex-partner and threatened to kill himself on her doorstep made her lose three stones in weight with anxiety.
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Police arrested Elliot Greaves for harassment, on January 1, prosecutor Ian West said, but he breached a court order not to contact her by sending texts and making calls, on January 17 and 29, June 13, and July 21 and 27.

In one text he said: "Are you too scared to answer? Either answer or I promise to kill myself and make sure everyone knows it's you."

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He sent 97 messages in a 75 minute period and she didn't reply, but that didn't stop him from continuing, Mr West said.

Sheffield Crown CourtSheffield Crown Court
Sheffield Crown Court

"He threatened to post explicit photos of her on Facebook even though she hadn't sent him any."

Greaves contacted her friends and family to try and use them as conduits to get in touch with her, after their relationship ended in 2019.

The court heard his victim had to take medication for panic attacks and sleep loss, and had to change her job role to avoid contact with the public.

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Some of the offending took place after he appeared at Leeds Crown Court and received a two-year suspended sentence for a violent offence.

Chris Aspinall, mitigating, said Greaves was "incredibly immature" and a "Walter Mitty" character, who didn't take the charges seriously until he was incarcerated.

“There are no threats to do anything to her,” he said. “There aren't any other insults.”

Greaves, 23, of Cross House Road, Sheffield, pleaded guilty to stalking.

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Judge Roger Thomas QC decided to defer sentence until December 3, and released Greaves on condition he lives with his father in Surrey, to get medical assistance.

"There are elements of this case that put the wind right up me," he said.

"I am worried about your behaviour and what you might do. I need to consider the worry and mayhem you have caused. It has to come to an end. I could send you down for a year or two but it's not getting to grips with all the issues here."

A restraining order banning Greaves from contacting his victim or visiting her address or workplace was made.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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