Sinister Sunderland stalker left women in fear with worrying acts

A sinister stalker caused fear to women he met through Facebook after spending one night with them then being rejected.

Luke Smith trawled through his first victim's phone while she slept at his home in July, obtained details of her friends, family and employer then warned he would use the information he had to "**** her life".

He sent abusive messages to her friends, made threats, used fake profiles to continue contact and falsely informed her company's head office that she worked while on drugs.

Weeks later Smith spent the night at the home of another woman and was then told to leave because of his bizarre behaviour the following morning.

He then bombarded her with messages and threatened to stab her.

At Newcastle Crown Court Mr Recorder Anthony Dunne said Smith's offending was "calculated and malicious".

Prosecutor Jane Foley told the court Smith's first victim spent the night at his home in Sunderland in July, and added: "When she fell asleep he trawled through her phone and obtained details of her friends and family and used that information to send abusive messages to several of her friends.

"He began to question her about people and it became clear at that point the defendant had been through her phone.

"When he began making unpleasant comments about her former partner she realised she did not want any further contact with him and told him that over the telephone.

"The defendant took exception to her ending the relationship and he told her he loved her and that he would **** her life. This wasn't an empty threat.

"She became aware he had sent messages to the head office of her employer, informing them she went to work intoxicated and under the influence of cocaine.

"This led to her having to explain the situation to her employers by showing them screenshots of the texts she had received from him.

"Her employers implemented safeguarding measures for her protection as they had seen him hanging around and trying doors at her workplace."

The court heard Smith turned his attention towards one particular friend of the woman and sent her abuse and threats, including that he would burn her house down while the victim was in it.

He sent "vile" messages and images which were "particularly offensive" and said the victim should kill herself.

He continued his campaign and started using fake profiles to send messages after his behaviour was reported to the police.

The victim ended up moving jobs and said Smith disturbed her sense of security.

Her friend said it was a "horrific experience" that caused fear.

In September, Smith spent the home at the night of another woman he had met through Facebook and when her young son woke early the next morning she went to comfort him in his bedroom.

The court heard Smith barged into the child's room and shouted "what the **** are you doing, you are making me feel really unwanted, making me feel you don't want to be near me" then slammed the door and left.

When the woman said she wanted nothing else to do with him, Smith sent her 50 messages, warned "watch what happens if you call the police" and threatened to stab her.

She said she was left fearful of him and reported what happened in a bid to prevent the same thing happening to someone else.

Smith, 26, of Tanfield Road, Sunderland, admitted stalking, two charges of harassment and three of sending malicious communication.

Jamie Adams, defending, said Smith, who has spent time in custody on remand, is now "ashamed" of his behaviour and had been using both prescription and illegal drugs to treat his anxiety but is now detoxified.

Mr Adams added that Smith, who has never been in trouble before, used no actual violence.

Mr Adams told the court: "He has struggled with mental ill health for some time.

"His drug taking became poisonous."

Mr Recorder Dunne sentenced Smith to 10 months, suspended for 18 months, with mental health treatment, programme and rehabilitation requirements.

Smith was given a five-year restraining order to protect the women.