A court heard it was ‘all a game to him’ and he had previously been locked up for assaulting the woman who ‘was in fear for her life’
A bullying “master manipulator” repeatedly targeted his terrified ex-girlfriend in a campaign of nasty harassment and he left her fearing that he would kill her one day. Ross Stubbs seemed determined to “instil terror” in the young woman by his constant pestering of her, including a “sinister” message in which he filmed himself making a menacing gun gesture.
The times that he tormented her were “hell” and he knew “how to play the system”. It was “all a game to him” and he was “no saint” and “no angel” in his cruel antics, Hull Crown Court heard.
Stubbs, 26, of east Hull, but recently in custody on remand, admitted five offences of breaching a restraining order and another offence of harassment between November 9 and December 16 last year. Julia Baggs, prosecuting, said that Stubbs and the woman were in a relationship for about two years but they separated in November 2021.
A restraining order was made in February 2022 after he was convicted of violent offences against her. The restraining order was later extended indefinitely.
Stubbs sent her a “sinister” Snapchat message showing him making signs with his hands as though he was pointing a gun. He later “liked” four separate posts of hers and made telephone calls to her on a series of days, including one where she heard laughter and recognised his voice.
There was a “clear escalation” in the messages. “She was in fear,” said Miss Baggs. The woman later said that Stubbs kept breaching the restraining order every time he got out of prison.
She feared that he might hurt her and that there might come a point where he would kill her. “She was in fear for her life,” said Miss Baggs. “She felt the harassment and breaches would never end.”
That period of time was “hell” and Stubbs was a “master manipulator” in what he did. “This is all a game to Ross,” said the woman.
“He knows how to play the system. He loves to be in control of situations. He does not care. Ross thinks of these court proceedings as a big game.”
Stubbs had convictions for 21 previous offences, a significant number of them involving his ex-girlfriend. They included assault causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage in January 2022, the assault involving kicking her to the face, head and back and strangling her. He had been jailed for 21 months.
He was jailed for eight weeks in September 2023 for five offences of breaching the restraining order and he was jailed for 47 weeks in August last year for similar offences. “He had not been out of prison for long when these offences were committed,” said Miss Baggs. “Contact started as soon as he got out of prison. It has clearly had a significant impact on her because of this extensive history.
“Contact was clearly designed to maximise fear and distress. The defendant has shown a complete disregard for the existing restraining order, with a history of disobedience to the court.”
Amber Hobson, mitigating, said that Stubbs had a cannabis dependence at the time and this impacted on his behaviour. He had suffered problems. “He needs to make changes and, if he doesn’t do so, he is simply going to end up back in custody,” said Miss Hobson.
“It’s clearly unpleasant offending. The defendant doesn’t seek to minimise any of his actions. In custody, he is completely free of substances.
“He is no longer misusing cannabis. He is impulsive and he lacks emotional regulation. The defendant wants to move on from whatever relationship there was with her.
“He is no saint. He is no angel. This needs to be the end of the road between the defendant and her.”
Stubbs had been in a new relationship for more than six months and his family wanted to help him obtain support.
Judge John Thackray KC told Stubbs: “You were released from prison for offences against the current victim. Once again, you showed a complete lack of respect for the court order.
“You seem determined to repeatedly instil terror upon your victim. There is no remorse here. It’s understandable that your victim was terrified by what you were doing. Your offending has had a profound effect upon your victim.
“It’s likely that your victim will never fully recover from your conduct and the repeated behaviour by you. Your conduct was designed to maximise fear and distress.”
Stubbs was jailed for two years and eight months. The restraining order will continue indefinitely.