Nigel Blackburn, 43, has been jailed for two years at Newcastle Crown Court after sending his victim a Facebook friend request with a profile picture showing her name tattooed across his back. The woman, identified as Lindsay, had previously been attacked by Blackburn, who was jailed last November and given a restraining order banning him from contacting her.
Breach of restraining order and escalating behaviour
Blackburn was released from prison in March, but by July 16 he was in breach of the order, standing outside the woman's home screaming abuse. The woman then received a Facebook request from Blackburn, with the profile picture showing he had her name, Lindsay, inked across his upper back in large lettering. Prosecutor Emily Sanderson told the court: 'She knew it was the defendant and was concerned he had only been released from prison in March and thought he was on a tag. She received a Facebook friend request from him. The profile picture showed a large tattoo across his back, of her name.'
Contact with friends and family
Blackburn also contacted two of the woman's friends, telling them he still loved her. Sanderson added: 'Her father also received a Facebook request from the defendant, with the same profile picture.' The court heard the woman was so disturbed by Blackburn's behaviour that she has moved out of the area. 'She genuinely fears if she stays at home the defendant will attend and kill her,' the prosecutor said.
Victim impact and court proceedings
In an impact statement, the woman said being in fear has become like a 'normality' and added: 'I just want him to leave me alone so I can move on with my life.' Blackburn's criminal record includes harassment of another ex-partner. He admitted breach of a restraining order and stalking causing fear of violence in relation to the latest offences. Judge Carolyn Scott sentenced him to two years behind bars. Sam Faulks, defending, said Blackburn has been the victim of violence in the past, which included having ammonia squirted in his face, causing him to lose one of his eyes, being stabbed, and attacked with a baseball bat. Faulks said Blackburn has PTSD and has worked hard on remand to become an enhanced prisoner, adding: 'It's not all grim, it's not all glum, there is hope.'
