(Image: ANDY FUTERS)
A “emotionally abusive” man harassed his ex-partner by driving near her at slow speed and sending her emails - leaving her feeling “like she couldn’t breathe”.
Nathan Oyston, from Darlington, repeatedly contacted his ex-girlfriend between June 5 and July 11 in 2025, months after their relationship ended in the February.
The 42-year-old used the fact he needed to collect some possessions "as a way to try and communicate", sending numerous emails and an Instagram link.
The victim also once noticed a vehicle "being driven by the defendant at a slow speed" in front of her house, and said he had driven past her home on another occasion.
Syed Ali, prosecuting, argued he was “trying to intimidate" her and was "well aware that she lives in that address".
In one of the emails, which was in relation to getting his possessions back, Oyston said he “hope[s] you are well and keeping out of trouble.”
“This communication was not to get his relations back to which the victim had clearly mentioned that there were ample opportunities but he never answered”, Mr Ali said.
“He just used this as a way to try and communicate with the victim.”
The court heard that, on June 15, Oyston also bumped into his ex in a supermarket.
“When the victim was at Aldi doing shopping the defendant came into the store,” Mr Ali said.
“As the defendant was passing the victim he tried to communicate with her. She told him to leave her alone.”
Oyston also sent the woman an Instagram link on June 21 and five days later emailed her acknowledging the Aldi encounter, saying it was “good to chat the other day”.
Another message was received on July 10.
Mr Ali said: “The defendant still has a photon on Facebook with herself which the victim finds incredibly strange.”
A statement read out from the victim in court described how, when they were together, Oyston would also “turn up at my house unannounced and would look through the windows”.
She said: “I felt that I had to hide in my own home. I used to hide with the curtains closed.”
The victim also said she “felt like I couldn’t breathe with the constant messages and driving past my house twice” and described Oyston as “emotionally abusive”.
She said she believed the defendant’s struggles with alcohol was “effective of his behaviour”.
“It took me a long time to feel comfortable walking by myself. Even now I still struggle when faced with a trigger,” she said.
Oyston, of Bates Avenue, was found guilty at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court following a trial on July 16 and was sentenced at the same court on Thursday.
Neil Douglas, mitigating, said the emails were sent by Oyston in “pleasant-ish terms” so that he could recover his property.
He said that just one word was spoken by the defendant when the two met in Aldi - and that an explanation was given over the driving past her house but was “simply rejected”.
“[There was an] Instagram link which he could not explain and a further email on July 10 which he could not explain,” Mr Douglas said.
“It does not indicate volume. It does not indicate him repeatedly turning up at the property and repeatedly sending messages.”
Mr Douglas said Oyston, who is self-employed, is a man of good character and now needs to “fully understand what he has done”.
Mrs Julie Pikesley, chair of the magistrates' bench, said: “There does seem to be a difference between what you believe is acceptable and what the court deems as acceptable.
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“It does appear that you still have some misunderstanding.”
Oyston was handed a six month community order, with 12 rehabilitation activity requirement days, and a fine of £764.
He was also handed a three-year restraining order.