Bullying ex-boyfriend's jail term is cut

Joshua Robert Bolland, 25, of Blackleach Drive, Worsley, was locked up for four years and two months at Manchester Crown Court on October 24 last year.

He admitted harassment, putting his former girlfriend in fear of violence, witness intimidation, criminal damage and fraud.

Bolland, then 24, was in a relationship with his victim, then 17, Lord Justice Simon told London's Appeal Court today.

He moved in with her in her father's property, but the "relationship hit difficulties".

He was not physically violent but was "demanding and controlling" and she was "scared of him".

On May 7 last year, the couple had an argument and he accused her of seeing other men.

When he became aggressive and started kicking furniture, she told him the relationship was over.

During his "vicious" campaign of harassment against her, he smashed windows of her father's property.

He told her the only way she could leave him was if she killed herself — and she responded by taking an overdose of painkillers.

He sent her social media messages, one of them warning her that her parents should "make sure they have a grave picked out for you".

Bolland also took her bank card and withdrew £100 from her account.

His previous convictions included harassment which put a person in fear of violence and criminal damage.

He told a probation officer that he was "heavily addicted to cocaine" at the time of his latest crimes.

Lawyers for Bolland argued his overall jail term was far too tough and should be reduced.

Lord Justice Simon, who was sitting with two other judges, said the harassment was "protracted and vicious".

It had a "significant impact" upon a "vulnerable young woman", added the appeal judge.

But he ruled that part of the jail term was "unlawful" and some of the sentences imposed should have been made concurrent, rather than consecutive.

The ruling meant Bolland's overall jail term was reduced to three years five months.