Chef who stalked and assaulted his ex-partner jailed

CHEF Michael Merrington stalked his ex-partner by accessing her email, instagram and Facebook accounts - on multiple occasions from his gran’s house in Macclesfield.

- 

Michael Merrington

The 31-year-old also threatened to disclose intimate photos of his victim after refusing to accept the relationship was over.

He assaulted his victim and damaged a mirror in her home.

Now Merrington has been jailed for four-and-a-half years at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court and slapped with a 10-year restraining order.

The four-year relationship had ended in July. It was on July 22 when he messaged the victim and she chose not to respond to him.

Prosecutor Olivia Appleby said: “The defendant continued to message the victim.

He said, ‘If you want me to send pictures I will do it now. I have got 12!’

She believed that referred to private photos she had sent to the defendant over the course of their relationship.”

Three days later an argument ensued as the defendant accused her of cheating on him.

Miss Appleby added: “He followed her around the house and shouted in her face.

“They slept in separate rooms. He kept going in her bedroom throughout the night to shout at her.”

The victim got up at 6am on July 26 to get ready for work. He took her phone and refused to give it back.