Bayliss lied to the victim’s workplace and said she had stolen drugs and was involved in money laundering.
A man who said he would ensure his victim “doesn’t have another relationship” has been jailed. Christopher Bayliss, 44, of Caroline Hart Walk, Cambridge, threatened to kill himself after finding out his former partner had started dating again.
He hacked into her dating and social media accounts with his behaviour getting worse when she started a new relationship. On November 15, he showed up at the victim’s home and demanded money.
The victim initially refused but later sent £25 to make him leave. At around 4am the following day, he returned and banged on the door threatening to kill himself.
In two days, Bayliss sent 92 WhatsApp messages, left 71 voicemails, and made 32 unanswered calls. He also contacted the victim’s daughter and told her it was her mother’s fault that he turned to drugs and said he would “make sure she doesn’t have another relationship to destroy another man”.
In another call, Bayliss asked the daughter to pass the phone to her mum. He then told her “you need to get the dog; I am going to kill myself” and threatened to destroy her job “so she doesn’t have her friends”.
He went on to blackmail the victim and demanded £50, threatening to contact her employer with false allegations that she had been stealing cash and drugs. He later emailed her workplace and claimed she had stolen drugs and was involved in money laundering.
In four days at the end of November, Bayliss sent over 200 messages and made more than 60 calls and voice messages to the victim. On December 2, he sent a message that he was monitoring her movements and said he assumed she had been suspended as he could see she was not at work.
The victim had left her home and had been staying elsewhere, in fear for her own safety, and parked her car out of sight so he couldn’t find her. Bayliss was arrested later that day.
Bayliss was sentenced to two years and seven months in prison after pleading guilty to stalking involving serious alarm or distress, harassment without violence, and blackmail at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday, May 14. A charge of controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship, along with a further stalking offence, was ordered to lie on file.
He was also made subject to a ten-year restraining order.
Detective Constable Abbie Ellis, who investigated, said: “Bayliss’ behaviour was relentless, manipulative and deeply distressing for the victim and her family. He used threats, intimidation and harassment in an attempt to control her life even after their relationship had ended.
“Stalking is a serious offence that can have a devastating impact on victims. I would encourage anyone experiencing similar behaviour to report it to police – you will be taken seriously and supported.”
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