Man jailed for 'bombardment' of phone calls and threats towards his ex-partner's family

A man who carried out a distressing and prolonged harassment campaign against his former partner’s family was jailed for 32 months today.
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Geoffrey Bromilow made more than 100 calls to their landline phone, initially asking her dad to persuade her to drop an assault allegation but then repeatedly threatening horrendous physical and sexual attacks.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Bromilow bombarded Philip Marlett with the unwanted phone calls over a six-week period and in some of these he threatened that he would get a Manchester gang to kidnap, rape and torture him.

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He also made similar threats against his ex-partner’s sister and her mum and threatened to burn down the family home in St Helens.

Geoffrey BromilowGeoffrey Bromilow
Geoffrey Bromilow

Jailing Bromilow and imposing a seven-year restraining order to keep away from the family and their home, Judge David Swinnerton said he had “made a thorough nuisance of himself and brought misery to their lives.”

He told him: “In a nutshell you made their lives a nightmare for that period, constantly ringing and left them living in a state of constant fear and anxiety.”

Bromilow, of Woodhouse Lane, Wigan, has mental health problems and is currently in Atherleigh Park Hospital in Leigh, having been transferred there while on remand in prison.

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The 37-year-old, described as having a paranoid personality disorder and high sensitivity, pleaded guilty to putting a person in fear by stalking.

Jamie Baxter, prosecuting, said that Bromilow had been in a relationship with Nicola and they had a child but the relationship had broken down after he assaulted her in October 2018 and she contacted the police.

Bromilow began ringing her dad on January 26 last year at his home which he shares with his wife, three grandchildren and their daughter Lisa. He initially made requests for him to get Nicola to withdraw the assault allegations but he refused.

He then began “a bombardment” of telephone calls, which came in cycles, and sometimes he left abusive messages on their answer machine.

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“As the weeks progressed closer to the trial his efforts increased. The calls became more frequent and more abusive,” said Mr Baxter.

Most of the threats were directed at Mr Marlett but some were also to his daughter Lisa.

Bromilow, his voice sometimes slurred through alcohol abuse, threatened to kill him and also said he would get a gang from Manchester and “a crew from Birmingham” to kidnap, rape and torture him.

He told Mr Marlett, “You’re a muppet, a f….ing little joke” and said, “You’ll get what’s coming to you because of what you’ve done. I could stop this if you start behaving yourself.’

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Eventually Mr Marlett, 63, went to the police and Bromilow was arrested. He made no comment when interviewed.

In victim personal statements Mr Marlett and his wife told how the “barrage” of calls during the harassment campaign had left them jumpy and on edge whenever the phone rang.

Mr Marlett said he “was still worried about his unpredictable behaviour and was struggling to sleep.” He added that he was particularly concerned about the impact on his wife and Lisa as well as their grandchildren.

HIs wife Elizabeth said that the defendant’s behaviour “had ruined my life” and said she had “living in a nightmare.”

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The court heard that Bromilow’s previous convictions include public order offences against his own mum and repeatedly breaching restraining orders to keep away from her, which led to him being jailed.

Ben Morris, defending, urged the judge to take some of Bromilow’s threats ‘with a pinch of salt” and said that sometimes laughter could be heard at the victim’s home. “That does not excuse what he has done,” he added.

His behaviour had been prompted by his health issues and alcohol use. He has been in custody since January this year for the offence though was transferred to a mental health unit, he said.

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