Stalker threatened to cut ex partner's throat and burn her house down in Leeds

A stalker has been jailed after he threatened to cut his ex partner’s throat and burn her house down in Leeds.

Robert Hunter was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court today after he pleaded guilty to offences of stalking and threats to kill.

Prosecutor Nicola Hoskins told the court how the 37-year-old had began messaging his ex-partner of 16 years “almost every day” over a 10-month period, after she had ended the relationship as a result of his persistent drug abuse.

The defendant, of no fixed abode, then made repeated threats of violence against the woman, who he shares three children with.

Ms Hoskins told the court how these included threats that he would stab her “in the face” and burn her house down.

He later sent the victim a voice note, overheard by their eldest daughter, saying “I’ll cut your throat and stand over your lifeless body,” Ms Hoskins added.

Hunter, who has previous convictions for drug offences in 2017 and 2020, told the police immediately after his arrest that he was “not sorry.”

In a victim impact statement, the court heard how the woman was left “exhausted and mentally broken” by the experience, struggles to eat and sleep and fears he will “turn up at any time.”

Speaking in mitigation, defence counsel Michael Greenhalgh said Hunter “accepts what he has done,” that the relationship is now over and wanted to say sorry.

He said that his client’s sustained drug abuse had led to a period of “psychosis,” during which he reported hearing voices and being suicidal.

This has improved since the defendant entered into detox while in custody at HMP Leeds and wants to rebuild the relationship with his children, Mr Greenhalgh added.

Passing sentence, Judge Christopher Batty described Hunter’s behaviour as “out of control,” and that he had clearly “never come to terms” with the relationship ending.

He sentenced him to two years in prison but postponed a judgement on a restraining order for a hearing to be held next week.