David Manby, 38, has been jailed for two years and six months after he appeared at the foot of his former partner's bed at 4am and intimidated her over a statement she had given to police about him.
Manby was captured on camera intimidating his ex over the statement. The woman placed a silent 999 call "in the hope that they could hear what Mr Manby was saying," Kathryn Wetherley, prosecuting, told Teesside Crown Court on Monday.
Background and breach of restraining order
Manby had been freed from prison on August 1, following a 19-month sentence for strangling his ex. He was subject to a restraining order preventing him from contacting the woman for the next 12 years.
The court heard that the woman was sleeping at home with her children on August 18 when she was disturbed by Manby, who started "shouting at her."
"He told her her statement would get f****** annihilated" and he would "give her a slap if she goes to court," Ms Wetherley told the court.
Threats and arrest
It had been alleged that Manby had breached his restraining order on August 1, and the victim had supplied police with a statement, the court heard. Manby yelled at his victim: "You're scared of what I'll do to your family", and: "You say I knock the f*** out of you constantly, so I'll get remanded", Ms Wetherley told the court.
The police overheard what Manby was saying. When they reached the Hartlepool property, he concealed himself in the loft before being arrested, reports Teesside Live.
Victim impact and sentencing
In a statement, the victim described feeling "terrified - to wake up and find David standing in my bedroom." She said she felt "intimidated" by his remarks about her statement and that she withdrew her statement.
"I felt trapped, frightened and powerless," the woman said. "I do not know how David gained access to my property."
Manby, of Oak Hill, Coulby Newham, admitted intimidating a witness and breaching his restraining order at a previous hearing. His solicitor, Tyler Plunkett, informed the court that the 999 call transcript "sounds as though Mr Manby is making a threat of violence against the victim - but the inaudible section is important".
The barrister argued that when Manby spoke about the woman being scared of what he would do to her family, "he was repeating what she said in her statement and he's taking issue with it - he wasn't threatening the complainant."
Judge Richard Clews addressed Manby, who appeared before the court via video link from HMP Holme House: "You were sent to prison for 19 months in April 2025. On August 1, it was alleged you breached your restraining order.
"You managed to intimidate her into withdrawing her statement," the judge continued. "I can only conclude that you were successful because she didn't turn up to give evidence and you were acquitted."
Manby was jailed for two years and six months for breaching his restraining order on August 18, and for witness intimidation.
