“Delusional, violent and controlling bully” jailed

A man who harassed and beat his former partner before taking her phone and changing her WhatsApp picture to one of them together has been jailed.

Thomas Lee, 38, subjected the woman to a tirade of abuse between July and September last year after their relationship had ended.

Despite the victim telling Lee on multiple occasions that she no longer wanted to be with him or speak to him and he was not welcome in her home, he continued to contact her.

On one occasion Lee contacted the victim and shouted abuse down the phone. She ended the call, but he continued to send her abusive and threatening messages.

On another occasion, Lee turned up at the victim’s home while her children were asleep and was verbally and physically abusive, punching her in the head and putting his hands around her throat in front of one of the children, who had woken during the commotion. He also damaged and smashed her belongings.  

He took the victim’s phone without her knowledge and changed her WhatsApp profile picture to one of him and her together, before messaging men in her contacts to tell them they were back together. He also messaged himself from her phone stating how much “she” loved him and wanted to get back with him.

Lee, of Victoria Road, Cambridge, was sentenced to one year and 10 months in prison at Peterborough Crown Court last week (26 February) after pleading guilty to harassment. Further counts including burglary, assault causing actual bodily harm, criminal damage and intentional strangulation were ordered to lie on file.

Detective Constable Lara Wycherley, who investigated, said: “Lee has proved himself to be a delusional, violent and controlling bully hell-bent on getting what he wants.

“I am glad justice has been done and hope this can bring some comfort to the victim, who I commend for her resilience and bravery throughout this traumatic ordeal.”

For more information and support around domestic abuse, visit our website.