A JEHOVAH’S Witness who was “desperate” to save his marriage has been ordered not to contact his ex-wife after admitting harassment.
James Andrew Jarrold felt anger and grief about the demise of his relationship, and had a “real reluctance” about divorce, York Crown Court was told.
Jarrold pleaded guilty to a charge of harassing his former wife, Marie Jarrold.
Chris Smith, mitigating, said the 35-year-old, of Myrtle Avenue, in Brayton, had acted during the break up of his marriage when he was “desperate to keep any last vestige of hope”.
The court heard that between May 2009 and January 2010, Jarrold plagued her with phone calls and text messages, contacting her numerous times each day, despite being told she did not want to speak to him.
One of the messages he left read: “I hope God curses you with misery.”
When she told him to stop contacting her by phone he began sending letters.
Rob Galley, prosecuting, said the messages and letters were not threatening but the overall picture was a “campaign of attrition”.
Recorder Colin Burn sentenced Jarrold to a two-year community order which will include supervision from the Probation Service. He was also banned from entering St Mary’s Walk in Hambleton and contacting his ex-wife’s son from her previous relationship.
In addition, a restraining order was imposed meaning Jarrold cannot instigate any form of direct contact with his ex-wife other than by a third party or using a message book kept by a third party.