Darlington man threatened to kill and maim former partner during vile campaign of stalking

Lawrence Coglan had been issued with a restraining order last summer to protect his ex-partner from his violent outbursts.

And the 58-year-old was given a community order for smashing the windscreen of a car belonging to the daughter of his ex-partner in a jealous rage.

However, after temporarily rekindling their romance Coglan unleashed his vengeful wrath when she ended it last October.

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The court heard he bombarded her with up to 800 text messages in a four month period filled with threats of violence and abuse.

Nigel Soppitt, prosecuting, told Teesside Crown Court how Coglan threatened to 'slash her face up' and 'throw acid in her face' as well as warning her he would turn up at her house armed with a shotgun or a knife.

Lawrence Coglan

Mr Soppitt said the stalking took place between October last year and January this year when he was arrested.

He said on one occasion Coglan turned up at her home demanding to be taken home and she was so fearful about what could happen that she did but never put her seatbelt on in case she needed to escape quickly.

On another occasion she awoke to discover he had written 'slag' on her car and home.

The court heard how the contents of the hundreds abusive text messages he sent the woman were branded 'distressing and disgusting' by his victim.

Mr Soppitt added the threats included throwing acid in her face, slashing her face up, he has a shotgun and is coming for her and wanting to make her 'squeal like a pig'.

In a victim impact statement the woman said fears for the safety of her and her family as a result of his abusive behaviour.

Coglan, of West Auckland Road, Darlington, pleaded guilty to stalking and breach of his restraining order.

Martin Towers, in mitigation, said his client had suffered two heart attacks since the offending started in October and urged the judge to give him credit for his early guilty plea.

Judge Recorder Nathan Adams sentenced Coglan to a total of two years and eight months in custody.

He said: "They were messages designed to cause fear in the victim as to what may happen to her. They include various allegations that she would be killed or maimed in various creative ways and they paint a very clear picture and it would seem obvious the affect they would have on her."