A mother who sent a barrage of abusive messages to her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend after discovering their relationship on Instagram has been spared jail.
Courtney Woodward-Brown Sentenced for Harassment and Stalking
Courtney Woodward-Brown, 23, of Widnes, Cheshire, pleaded guilty to one count each of harassment and stalking at Warrington Magistrates' Court. She was given a 12-month community order, required to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and 20 days of rehabilitation activity, and ordered to pay £199 in costs and a surcharge. A two-year restraining order was also imposed, forbidding contact with the couple except through a third party for childcare arrangements.
Relationship Ended via Text on Christmas Eve
The court heard that Woodward-Brown had been in a nine-year relationship with her high school sweetheart, and the pair had a child together in 2023. He ended the relationship via text on Christmas Eve last year. Months later, she saw a photo of her former partner and his new girlfriend together, posted by the gym they attended, and began bombarding them with calls and threatening messages.
Victims Feared for Their Safety
The couple said Woodward-Brown's actions caused them considerable anxiety and stress, and they feared it might happen again. The new girlfriend described the messages as 'extremely threatening' and said they made her 'worry for her safety.' In a statement, she said: 'It all caused sleepless nights. There has been an impact on my family causing them to worry about my safety and wellbeing. Due to her stalking behaviour I was constantly looking around. When I see a white Polo, it causes me to be fearful and I check the registration plate.'
Ex-Partner Describes Stress and Anxiety
Woodward-Brown's ex-partner said he had been 'worried' about her finding out about his new girlfriend and was 'not surprised' by what happened. He stated: 'It has caused a huge amount of stress particularly in relation to my daughter and has caused a great deal of anxiety when trying to sort out child care. There is constant harassment every time I see the defendant and hand over my daughter. I now have to go through my grandparents and the constant stress the defendant was putting me in has caused tension between me and my granddad. I am worried about repeat behaviour and that it could happen again in the future.'
Mitigation and Sentence
In mitigation, Woodward-Brown's lawyer Anthony Derbyshire noted that she had been in a relationship with her ex for nine years and from a young age. He said the breakup via text on Christmas Eve caused her upset, and she had also given up her employment around the same time. He added that she was 'willing' to use a parenting app to communicate with her ex to avoid involving grandparents. Chair of the bench Ian Williams warned her: 'It goes without saying if you were to continue to harass either of these people you would be in a lot of trouble.'
