Jilted lover, 56, adopted ex on dates and broken his automotive throughout harassment marketing campaign
Jilted Joanne Butler caused more than £10,000 worth of damage to her former lover’s car and van and followed him on dates during seven-month harassment campaign
A spurned lover caused more than £10,000 worth of damage to her ex-boyfriend’s vehicles after their on-off relationship ended, a court heard.
Jilted Joanne Butler, 56, followed her ex on dates and sent him pictures of the inside of his house over a seven-month harassment campaign between March and October last year, magistrates were told.
North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard she caused £8,300 worth of damage to his BMW and £2,000 worth of damage to his Citroen van and trashed his personal property after becoming incensed that he broke things off.
As a result, her ex-lover has also seen the cost of his car insurance increase this year and in the next two years and had to pay money to have cameras installed at the front of his property, Stoke on Trent Live reported.
Prosecutor Julia Fox said: “This was an on-and-off again relationship, which ultimately led to Butler refusing to accept the victim wanted nothing to do with her and that the relationship had come to an end. She went around the back of his house during the night.
“This was a calculated decision rather than a knee-jerk reaction. She saw he had a guest staying at the property and came around the next day to cause more damage. Usually a man is harassing a woman, but this case has flipped that dynamic on its head.”
Butler – who represented herself in court – pleaded guilty to criminal damage and harassment, but scoffed and rolled her eyes during the prosecution’s opening remarks. She argued her bizarre actions were appropriate because the break-up left her upset.
She told the court: “When I did take the picture, later that year he asked me to go away with him. He wasn’t fearful of me, as we went away in September 2024. I feel like I’ve been treated badly as well.”
Butler’s mitigation was cut short by the prosecution after she began an attempt to disparage the victim’s character – with Mrs Fox reminding her that only one person was being sentenced.
In a victim impact statement, her ex said: “I am now paying more expensive insurance premiums as a result of this damage. Overall, the experience has caused me financial loss, alongside stress, anxiety and the inconvenience of being harassed.”
Butler, of Kidderminster, was sentenced to a 12-month community order, including 15 rehabilitation days, 270 unpaid hours’ work and £1,204 in damages. She was given an 18-month restraining order against her victim.
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