Woman used 'SmartWater' spray on relentless stalker

HE MADE HER LIFE A MISERY WITH EMAILS AND CALLS

- By MARK NAYLOR [e-mail] @GTMarkNaylor

A RELENTLESS stalker left a woman in panic and fearing for her life after he refused to accept that their “toxic” relationship was over and went to extreme lengths to pursue, harass and torment her.

Obsessed and aggressive Neil Ledden made the woman’s life a complete misery by turning up at her home and workplace, bombarding her with emails and telephone calls and demanding to speak to her.

During one incident, he suddenly slammed on his car brakes, causing her vehicle to crash into the back of his, Hull Crown Court heard.

Ledden, 54, of Hull, admitted stalking the woman between October 1 and December 2 and careless driving and having no insurance on November 29.

He pleaded guilty on the day of a scheduled trial.

Oliver Shipley, prosecuting, said that the woman met Ledden about 14 years ago and they lived together for about nine years. She described the relationship as “toxic from the very start” but matters came to a head when she found the courage to end the relationship.