Chipping Norton man threatened to put photo on Facebook

Manipulative Dean Goldsmith, 44, tried to emotionally blackmail his former partner into getting back with him, variously claiming that he loved her or that she should get their dog put down as he was ‘going to kill himself’.

Having repeatedly turned up at her home and sent a raft of bullying messages, he was arrested and given police bail conditions not to contact her.

Despite those conditions, he continued to contact her and even tried to get into her home. Finally, on April 15, almost two months after his arrest, he broke into the woman’s old flat then used a power tool to cut the lock on the front door and let himself out.

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Prosecuting, Cathy Olliver said defendant Goldsmith had been in a relationship with his victim, whom he had known for a decade, for ‘the last year or so’.

“The victim says that when he drinks, Mr Goldsmith becomes abusive and scary towards her,” the prosecutor said.

By late January this year, she had ‘finally had enough of him’ and the defendant moved out of her home. They had, however, come to an arrangement that he was allowed to come to the property to collect and walk the dog.

The arrangement was said to have worked for some time. However, on February 13 he arrived at the house ‘very angry and worked up about something’. He threw his bank card at her and told her ‘she must have his dog put down’ and that he was ‘going to kill himself’.

She phoned the police to warn them about the threat. Ms Olliver said: “Apparently, as a result of that, Mr Goldsmith sent her a number of offensive texts.”

He used foul language and threatened to post online a revealing image he claimed to have of her. He threatened: “Your pic is on Facebook and it’s going to get you some likes and requests.”

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Goldsmith seemed to change his tune, clarifying that ‘actually I haven’t got the photo, I’ve deleted it’ before two minutes later claiming: “It’s on the internet.”

His victim was so fearful for her safety that she moved out to her mother’s house. She received reports from neighbours that her ex had been seen around the house.

On February 19, when she had returned to her property, Goldsmith was heard shouting threats through the letterbox aimed at the father of her children.

He was arrested, interviewed then bailed by the police two days later. He continued to contact her on bail, asking for his ‘stuff’ back, before finally breaking a window to get into her flat in April.

Goldsmith, of Middle Row, Chipping Norton, pleaded guilty at the magistrates’ court to stalking, threatening to disclose a private image and criminal damage.

Recorder John Hardy KC imposed 24 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for two years, with the defendant required to undertake an alcohol rehabilitation course and complete the building better relationships domestic violence course with the probation service.