(Image: West Yorkshire Police)
A STALKER has been jailed after he bombarded his victim with messages and “ruined” her life.
Bradford Crown Court heard how Murtaza Mahmood had been given a referral order back in June 2022 for a previous stalking offence, but just a year later he was again involved in what a judge described as “wholly dominating and controlling” behaviour towards another female complainant.
Judge Geoffrey Marson KC said the now 22-year-old had been constantly calling the complainant and checking up on her and it was not surprising that her mental health declined.
“Your behaviour continued until April 2026.
"Bombarding her with threatening and abusive messages. Hundreds of messages,” the judge told Mahmood.
Woman has had to make 'significant changes to her lifestyle'
Even after Mahmood was arrested and released on bail his behaviour continued for a few more days until he was arrested again and remanded into custody.
Judge Marson said the simple fact was that Mahmood had ruined the woman’s life and his persistent and prolonged conduct had resulted in the complainant suffering significant psychological harm.
“She’s had to make significant changes to her lifestyle and it will take many years, if ever, to recover from you did,” he told Mahmood.
Man jailed
Mahmood, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to a charge of stalking involving fear of violence in June and today he was sentenced to 23 months in jail.
Judge Marson also made Mahmood the subject of a 10-year restraining order which bans him from contacting the complainant or going to any address where he knows or believes she may be living.
Only immediate custody could be justified
Although Mahmood had expressed remorse for his offending Judge Marson said he did not accept that saying the defendant had continued, in part, to blame his victim.
The judge had been urged to consider suspending any prison sentence after Mahmood had been remanded in custody since the end of April.
Barrister John Bottomley, for Mahmood, said his client was an immature young man who had suffered with attachment issues.
But Judge Marson said it was not an appropriate case to suspend the jail sentence and the offending was so serious that only immediate custody could be justified.