His ‘highly unpredictatable’ antics ‘tortured’ his terrified ex-girlfriend
A “talented” head chef made a “blood-curdling threat” to burn down the homes of his ex-girlfriend and her mother during a “barrage of harassment” that included a series of “vile” and “obnoxious” messages. Heavy-drinking cocaine user Kieran Lymburn made the terrified woman’s life a misery and he “tortured” her through his “highly unpredictable” antics.
She had been left feeling unsafe in her own home and fearing what he might be capable of doing, Hull Crown Court heard. Lymburn, 32, of Hull, but recently in custody on remand, admitted stalking between April 28 and July 21, making a threat to damage property and two offences of causing criminal damage on April 29 and two offences of assault on June 1 and December 24 last year.
Ben Hammersley, prosecuting, said that Lymburn and the woman met through a mutual friend and started a relationship in 2023 but it ended in February last year. During one assault incident on June 1 last year, he went to her home and hit her with a mobile phone, causing an injury above her eye and blood to trickle down from her eyebrow area.
On Christmas Eve, he kicked her while he was at her home and he spat in her face, over her eyes. On April 25 this year, he turned up at her home in a drunken state and she asked him to leave.
He did so but later appeared in her garden. Throughout the evening, he repeatedly showed up.
He repeatedly kicked a garden gate until it came off its hinges. He spat on her car and kicked a man’s car.
“He was challenged about his behaviour by a passer-by and left the scene,” said Mr Hammersley. As Lymburn was leaving at about 6.30pm, he told his ex-girlfriend: “I’m going to burn yours and your mam’s houses down.” The police arrived.
In the next couple of months, Lymburn sent a “barrage” of text messages, emails and social media posts every other day. She told him to leave her alone but he persisted with the abuse.
The messages included threats to kill the woman and saying that he hoped that she got raped. The woman later said that the situation had made her feel nervous and she was unsure what he was capable of doing while he was under the influence. “He can be unpredictable,” she said.
“I do not feel safe. I don’t feel safe in my house in general. I am very scared of Kieran. He is highly unpredictable.
“I am always looking over my shoulder to see if Kieran is near me. It scares me what he is capable of. This abuse has continued for months after ending the relationship.
“I don’t deserve to be treated like this. I feel depressed and so anxious all the time. It’s affecting my sleep. I am being tortured by him constantly.”
During police interview, Lymburn made no comment to most questions. He had convictions for 27 previous offences between December 2007 and August last year, eight of them involving assaults and five against property. He had been jailed for 14 days in August last year for breaching a domestic violence protection order, involving the same woman.
Amber Hobson, mitigating, said that the offences had clearly caused distress to the woman and they had an impact on her life through worry and anxiety. “He is incredibly remorseful,” said Miss Hobson.
“This was, on any reading of it, a poor relationship which he ought to have left. He made poor choices throughout and took his temper out in incredibly negative ways.
“The text messages were insidious, unpleasant and vile. He is disgusted with himself and ashamed when revisiting the content of those messages.” Lymburn had struggled with alcohol misuse and he was taking cocaine at weekends.
He had previously worked as head chef for a “well-established Italian restaurant” in Hull and he later worked at a “luxury steakhouse” before being remanded in custody. He was now completely free of drugs and was not misusing alcohol.
Recorder Taryn Turner said that Lymburn made a “blood-curdling threat” that he would burn down the homes of his ex-girlfriend and her mother. He subjected her to a “barrage of harassment” through text messages, emails and social media posts.
“The content of those was quite vile and unpleasant,” said Recorder Turner. “It was obnoxious. It was a tirade of bad behaviour which has escalated in gravity over the course of the past 12 months or so.
“You were a talented chef but you have blown that for the time being.” Lymburn was jailed for two years and he was given a 10-year restraining order.