Adam Wood (pictured outside Bolton magistrates’ Court), 33, sent messages to Katie Hall outlining his plan
An accountant has been banned from contacting his ex-girlfriend for two years after he offered to pay her child maintenance on condition she slept with him.
Father-of-two Adam Wood, 33, sent messages to Katie Hall outlining his plan after they broke up and she began a new relationship.
He sent her 77 aggressive texts, some suggesting he would pay Child Support Agency payments for their two daughters if she had ‘some sort of sexual contact with him’.
He became obstructive during weekend access visits, either being absent when he was supposed to collect his children or calling Miss Hall at the last minute to cancel.
Wood would also demand to see receipts for the children’s nursery as proof of the fees. Police were called after Miss Hall, from Bolton, Greater Manchester, found 113 missed calls from Wood on her phone.
She told officers how her ex-partner – who worked for an online retail firm – threw temper tantrums during their seven year on-off relationship and would smash furniture up and destroy her clothes.
She had also received injuries after he pushed her head into a mirror and had been given a warning about his behaviour in 2017.
Wood sent her 77 aggressive texts suggesting he would pay Child Support Agency payments for their two daughters if she had ‘some sort of sexual contact with him’
In a statement Miss Hall said: ‘I’m exhausted by it all and sick and tired of going into work every four weeks with the same problem and to try to explain to my daughters why their father can’t have them at the weekends.
‘I don’t see any solution to Adam he’s not being reasonable. I ended the relationship as we were constantly arguing and it didn’t matter what I did – it wasn’t right for him.
‘My priorities are my daughters and he doesn’t seem to care how his behaviour impacts on his daughters and my life. I can’t go on like this. His behaviour is not right or a good example to set for our girls.’
At Bolton Magistrates’ Court, Wood, from Westhoughton, admitted harassment without violence and was issued a restraining order.
The father of two became obstructive during weekend access visits, either being absent when he was supposed to collect his children or calling Miss Hall at the last minute to cancel
He was ordered to complete a programme on ‘Building Better Relationships’ plus 150 hours unpaid work.
The court heard the pair met in 2010 and began dating shortly afterwards but Miss Hall said Wood’s behaviour deteriorated following the birth of their first child.
Robin Lynch, prosecuting said: ‘He would become aggressive, smash furniture up and destroy her clothes.
‘There were references made in 2013 when she received injuries as a result of him pushing her head into a mirror.
‘The defendant had irrational behaviour and he also did his utmost to sabotage holiday arrangements and in 2014 the aggrieved did stop the relationship.
‘But they decided to try again as the defendant’s behaviour seemed to have improved in 2015.
‘She quite quickly became pregnant with their second child and she gave birth in April 2016 but in September of that year the police are called as the defendant was being aggressive and wouldn’t calm down.
‘In June 2017 one of the children became quite seriously ill and in November 2017 Miss Hall would say that the defendant assaulted her in front of her children. It resulted in him being arrested and he received an adult caution for that offence.
At Bolton Magistrates’ Court, Wood, from Westhoughton, admitted harassment without violence and was issued a restraining order
‘They separated again but remained in contact because of their children. However she would say the defendant was being obstructive and demanding to see receipts for nursery and other expenses for her daughters.
‘In March last year, the aggrieved told the defendant that she was in a new relationship and a result of that his behaviour then escalated.
‘There were arrangements every other weekend that the defendant would look after the children.
‘But after she told him about that relationship the defendant would not be present at the times she was supposed to be dropping off the children. Alternatively shortly before a visit he would contact her saying that he wasn’t having the children.
‘It results in her sometimes being late for work and having to inform other family members what was going on.
‘He then repeatedly contacted her in a very short space of time over a one day period.
‘She received 77 messages and 113 missed calls and calls to her phone and she explains how he is aggressive and unpredictable.
‘Some of the messages are saying he will pay his CSA payments if the aggrieved would have some sort of sexual contact with him. That was refused by the aggrieved but it clearly had an impact on her mental health.
Wood (left and right|) was ordered to complete a programme on ‘Building Better Relationships’ plus 150 hours unpaid work
‘She confirms that a restraining order is wanted saying this has been a long process for her and she just wants the defendant to realise his behaviour towards her is not acceptable. She says it has affected her mental health, work-life and her daughter’s lives.
‘She does not wish the defendant to receive a custodial sentence and thinks that would actually be worse and affect the young daughters immensely if the defendant was to go to prison.
‘She does want the defendant to have contact but not to contact her directly or indirectly save through a third party for child contact only and not to go onto her street.
‘She has moved and initially thought the defendant didn’t know where she was living- she now realises he does know where she lives.
‘During these proceedings he has only seen the children on one occasion and she doesn’t want to stop contact in any way.’
Wood, who was unrepresented was also ordered to pay £170 in costs and surcharges, told JPs: ‘My mother’s been the third party and we’re happy to carry on with that. I thought that the situation of pushing her head into a mirror had been struck off and the hearing today was for harassment without violence.
‘But I put my hands up for everything I have done and I understand. I have since resigned from work and I will resume employment at the beginning of the new financial year. I’m getting myself some help.’