Stalker had illegal sex with girl and tormented ex

A man who had sex with a 15-year-old girl and then went on to stalk and torment his ex-partner has been jailed for eight years.

Gary Froggatt, 34, assaulted the girl and then carried out a campaign of abuse and attacks on a woman after she ended their short relationship, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

While being held on remand he sent the woman death threats which were intercepted by prison staff.

He admitted having sexual activity with a child, stalking and assault and was found guilty of making threats to kill and sending malicious communications.

Froggatt, of Brighton Close in Wallsend, knew the girl's age when he had sex with her between December 2021 and January 2022, prosecutor David Povall said.

He was subject to a suspended prison sentence of 16 months at the time, imposed for wounding a woman having fractured her cheekbone, the court heard.

In January 2023 he began a relationship with a woman but she ended it three months later due to his erratic behaviour, the court was told.

Over the following months he repeatedly walked into her home, yelled abuse at her and made threatening gestures, Mr Povall said, including running his finger across his throat and pointing at her menacingly with a shovel.

On one occasion, after she refused to invite him to her birthday party, he walked in and attacked her while she was sleeping before hitting her about the head with a jar he stored his cannabis in, the court heard.

The woman was advised by a doctor to seek medical help for her injuries but she refused as she feared retributions from Froggatt, Mr Povall said.

He also told her he would go to jail for killing her.

Eventually the abuse was reported and Froggatt was arrested and held on remand.

While in prison, he wrote a "lengthy letter" in which he repeatedly threatened to kill the woman among other vile abuse, the prosecutor said.

The letter was never delivered to the woman as staff in the prison's post room intercepted it.

Judge Sarah Mallett said the "terrified" woman had tried to move away because of Froggatt.

The judge said Froggatt posed a serious harm to children and the woman, telling him: "It seems you see yourself as a powerful figure and want to make a name for yourself."

Froggatt must sign the sex offenders register for life and abide by a sexual harm prevention order restricting his contact with children.

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