A woman was left feeling “crushed” and suffering “extreme alarm and distress” after her ex-boyfriend repeatedly ignored a restraining order and pestered her during “deliberate” breaches of it.
Ryan Marrazza made her life a complete misery and left her scared of what he might do. At the time, he already had a conviction for stalking the woman. During a series of menacing incidents, he paid a man to track her down and keep watch on her, Hull Crown Court heard.
Marrazza, 32, of York Road, Hull, admitted harassment and breaching a restraining order.
Harry Bradford, prosecuting, told an earlier hearing that Marrazza and the woman had previously been in a relationship but it ended in 2019. He was given a ten-year restraining order in 2022 after a stalking offence.
He was banned from contacting the woman but, on January 31 last year, she received a message on TikTok with an image of Marrazza and his first name on it. He sent a picture of them both, together with a child.
The message read: “My everything in one photo. What I would give to be able to spend the rest of my life with you.” He also sent a video set to music. “This is a deliberate breach,” said Mr Bradford.
The woman later said: “I feel on edge. I feel agitated and anxious all the time. I thought that having a harassment order in place would protect me.
“I feel scared and frightened of what he might do and what he is capable of. Ryan Marrazza has caused me extreme alarm and distress over the years.
“I was afraid of him and didn’t want to leave the house in case I would see him. I am agitated and anxious.” The situation had “crushed” her and affected her relationships with family and friends as well as causing trust issues.
Marrazza was arrested on February 1 last year and he told police that he understood that the restraining order was in place. He accepted sending the messages. He had convictions for 15 previous offences between 2009 and last year, including the stalking offence, when he was given a one-year suspended prison sentence, with a Building Better Relationships course, and a ten-year restraining order.
Sentence on Marrazza was deferred for six months on January 10 so that he could prove that he could stay out of trouble and stay away from the woman. At a resumed hearing, the court heard that there had been no further incidents.
He was given a six-month suspended prison sentence, a four-month monitoring order and 20 days’ rehabilitation.
Judge John Thackray KC told Marrazza: “You have got this six months hanging over your head. If you keep out of trouble, you won’t have to serve it. Make sure you keep out of trouble otherwise you will have that six months to serve as well as anything on top.”
The previous hearing in 2022 was told that Marrazza bombarded his “terrified” ex-girlfriend with dozens of messages and telephone calls and even paid a man to track her down and keep watch on her.
When he discovered where she was, he sent a picture message saying: “Time for a trip to the seaside.”
The woman was too scared to leave her hotel in case he was waiting for her, the court heard. The woman believed that Marrazza did not know where she had moved to but he telephoned her a number of times.
He told her: “I’m sorry, babe, I have realised what I have done. I have learned my lesson. You need to drop the court case. I am a changed man.”
The woman received WhatsApp messages, including one saying that he was sorry and “wanted to sort things out”. She received a telephone call from a new number in which he said: “I’m really sorry. I know where you have been.”
Marrazza told her that he knew how much she had spent at Tesco, which amusement arcades she had been in and knew about her new phone and contract. He asked her in a WhatsApp message: “What have I done wrong? xxx.”
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The woman received a Snapchat friend request from Marrazza and four telephone calls between 12.30am and 3.49am. He told her: “I love you and just want to be with you.”
There were 38 missed calls between 12.30am and 3.50pm. She answered one of them and he asked her to drop the charges.
Marrazza also sent a friend request, messages and pictures to her on an account which appeared to have been set up just for this because she was the only person he followed on Snapchat.
He also sent a message to another man asking what was going on between him and the woman.
Marrazza’s previous convictions included sexual activity with a girl aged between 13 and 16 in 2010, theft in 2010, taking a vehicle without consent and being the owner of a dangerous dog in 2013.