Ahoghill man is convicted of harassment after leaving 'love letter' at grave
A man who left a "love letter" at a grave has been convicted of a charge of harassment.
He had also sent his ex-partner messages threatening self-harm. Gareth Mabin (37), with an address listed as Brookfield Gardens in Ahoghill, committed the offence in September last year.
Antrim Magistrates Court, sitting in Ballymena, was told the defendant left a letter for his ex-partner at the ex-partner's father's grave. The defendant also sent messages to his ex-partner on Snapchat.
The court was told the woman was concerned the defendant would turn up at her home and the unwanted contact was causing her distress.
A prosecutor said the woman told police a family member told her a "love letter" was left on her father's grave. The letter was signed: 'Lots of love, your big G.'
The Snapchat messages came from a new account 'GWM'. The messages claimed to come from a friend of the defendant and made reference to the woman's "current relationship" and also mentioned Mabin's mental health.
The court was told the woman challenged the sender saying she knew it was the defendant who was sending the messages. The defendant then admitted making contact and apologised and "begged" her not to contact police.
An email sent from an account in the name of Gareth Mabin then made reference to the "love letter" and the defendant said he left it at the grave instead of going to his ex-partner's home.
A defence barrister said the test in a harassment case is that a "reasonable person ought to have known" it was harassment.
District Judge Nigel Broderick said: "Imagine you go to your loved one's grave and you find a letter there. Contact, from someone, you don't want and then they contact you on a platform and pretend to be somebody else and threaten suicidal ideation and self-harm."
He continued: "That is a red flag. One of the red flags for femicide is a perpetrator of domestic abuse threatening to self harm and there have been many cases of victims of domestic abuse who sadly have been ultimately murdered by their partner or close relative and if you go back through the history one of the red flags is that before they commit that terrible act they have threatened self-harm or suicidal ideation in some way to evoke feelings of pity and to paint themselves as the victim."
The defence barrister said the case before the court was a "bit more nuanced". He said "there is a significant learning difficulty background here and the mental health concerns appear to be very legitimate."
The judge noted the defendant had an "appropriate adult" when interviewed by police but that there was no Registered Intermediary for the contest and there was "no issue about fitness".
Judge Broderick ruled that harassment was proven and convicted the defendant. He said there were "concerning elements" and the defendant knew the ex-partner did not want contact.
The judge said: "I can fully understand why the victim was concerned and scared about him leaving a letter on the grave of a loved one and then sending those messages threatening self-harm."
The case was adjourned to February 17 for a pre-sentence report. As part of bail the defendant is not to contact his ex-partner.