A CRUEL thug forced his ex-girlfriend to pay him £300 per month after their split – to stop him posting intimate photos of her online.
Louie Tedford blackmailed Erskine woman Kirsty Nealis after she told him she’d had enough of his abuse, which included bombarding her with insults and assaulting her.
He convinced her to pay him money so he wouldn’t post pictures online that she had sent him in confidence during happier times.
Tedford, 22, was caged over his abuse at Paisley Sheriff Court last week, with 21-year-old Ms Nealis branding him “a rat.”
He had admitted his guilt at a previous hearing.
Procurator fiscal depute Susan Barr told the court that Tedford abused Ms Nealis repeatedly during their two-year relationship.
He continued the abuse after she split from him and left their Paisley flat.
In June 2017, by which time Ms Nealis was living with her mother in Erskine, Tedford sent her an intimate image, which she had previously sent him, and threatened to “ruin her life.”
She then began paying him £300 per month to get him to stop harassing her, as he had been texting and phoning her every day.
READ MORE: Social workers fail in court bid to force sex offender to move home
He also dumped his dog at her house, only agreeing to take it back when she paid him a further £300.
Ms Nealis reported him to police in August 2018 and provided screenshots and recordings of the abuse.
The court was told Tedford’s behaviour had a devastating impact on Miss Nealis.
Ms Barr said: “She states she hasn’t been able to fully restart her life and struggles dealing with the impact this has had on her.”
Tedford had pleaded guilty to charges of threatening or abusive behaviour, stalking and assault, all aggravated by abuse of his then partner.
Sheriff David Pender jailed him for eight months, reduced from 10 months because he had admitted his guilt, and made him the subject of a five-year non-harassment order, which means he is banned from approaching or contacting Ms Nealis in any way.
Speaking about her ordeal after Tedford was jailed, Ms Nealis, who is now happy with a new partner, said: “Although I feel like he deserved a much longer sentence, I’m just glad I can finally move on and close this chapter of my life.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here