12 January 2023 , 18:35
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A woman drove her ex-boyfriend to the brink of suicide with more than 1,000 text messages pleading with him to rekindle their broken romance.
Michelle Felton, 28, was so infatuated with Ryan Harley that she rang or messaged him up to 150 times each day after he ended their relationship.
The woman, who works as an assistant for Specsavers, sent her ex multiple messages every day, asking him: "Why won't you speak to me? I love you. Are we meeting tonight? Are we going out?"
Felton accused Mr Harley of cheating in his driving test when he failed to respond.
Mr Harley, who lives with his mother in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire eventually called the police when Felton began leaving gifts on his doorstep.
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Ryan Harley (right) said he felt suicidal after being harassed by messages from his ex
The woman bombarded her ex with more than 1,000 text messages (Michelle Felton/ Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)The man, who accused Felton of controlling him during their 21-month fling, told officers: "I just want it to go away and for it all to stop. I just feel like ending it all."
At Warrington Magistrates' Court, Felton also of Ellesmere Port admitted harassment after her not-guilty plea to coercive behaviour was accepted by prosecutors.
She was banned from contacting Mr Harley for 18 months and sentenced to an 18-month community order with a requirement she participates with 30 days of rehabilitative activity.
She was also fined £50 and ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge of £395.
The couple had started dating in May 2020, but they split up in February 2022 after an argument in which Mr Harley accidentally broke Felton's finger and she kicked him in the groin.
Prosecutor Arron Smith, prosecuting, said: "Mr Harley informed Miss Felton that he wished to end the relationship. He said that it had been toxic in his view. She did not agree with that, and it led to the harassment offence.
Felton tried to convince her ex-boyfriend to rekindle their broken romance (Michelle Felton/ Cavendish Press)
She was banned from contacting Mr Harley for 18 months (Michelle Felton/ Cavendish Press)"Between the dates of February 15 and February 26, there was a constant barrage of messages. There were 100s of messages each day, missed calls and texts sent without reply.
"The police officer records the messages on his body-worn camera, which was a constant scrolling exercise of message after message after message. As he was scrolling through them more texts and calls were coming through as the officer was recording it.
"They are not threatening messages or abusive messages, but it's the constant nature of them. She stated that she loves Mr Harley, that she was hurt that the relationship was over, and did not want to continue living.
"She sent photos of her and said that he belongs to her. He doesn't reply.
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"Miss Felton also attended his address when uninvited at times. She is informed several times that he does not want her to contact him and doesn't want to resume the relationship but she does not adhere to his request.
"He says it was causing him great discomfort. He does not want to have any more contact and wants to rebuild his life. The messages caused him great harm and distress."
Felton, who is currently dating a new boyfriend, had no previous convictions and was of good character, with a caution for assault in 2017 on her record.
In mitigation, defence lawyer Peter Barnett claimed Mr Harley had only pursued the charge against Felton to avoid being prosecuted for grievous bodily harm against her after he broke her finger.
"On 9 or 10 February, predating this harassment offence, she attended his home address," said Mr Barnett. "She was invited and they went to bed. When they woke up he was in a poor mood. He thereafter became agitated and got out of bed. They argued and in the course of the argument he said he was kicked in the nether regions.
"She disputes that but accepts that she kicked him. She said that he was over her and had wound up a sock and was smacking her around the face with a sock. She sat up in bed. He then proceeded to grab her small finger, he bent it and twisted it, breaking the finger.
"In the circumstances, he spent the next five days looking after her. She was persuaded not to go to hospital and she did not want to go in case she got into trouble. Thereafter, she says he told her he did not want anything to do with her. She could not understand it.
"She could not go to work. She worked at a local opticians but could not continue due to the injury on her finger. 12 days later, on 26 February, he made that complaint. She has pleaded guilty to harassment. She sent voluminous messages and calls to a degree that he would have suffered some element of harassment."
Felton had no previous convictions and was of good character (Michelle Felton/ Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)
She is currently dating a new boyfriend (Michelle Felton/ Cavendish Press)After Felton was interviewed by police on February 27, the solicitor said she attended hospital.
"She realised that she needed assistance and went to the hospital," Mr Barnett said, "The finger was examined, and it was found that because it had been manipulated, she had to have surgery under general anaesthetic. She had metal splints, and her finger was manipulated back to position.
"She still has limited mobility. She was told that if she had left it any longer she would have had a permanent disability. It may still be the case that she has some disability.
"She accepts the harassment and takes responsibility for sending those messages. But two wrongs don't make a right."
Sentencing, JP Alan Eyres told Felton: "It's a sad story but nevertheless here you are. We have taken into account your late guilty plea and that you have no previous convictions. We do not want to see you again."
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