A 25-YEAR-OLD Harlow man branded a “menace to young women” after attacking three of his former partners has been jailed for two years.
In order to protect his latest two victims from further harassment, a judge also issued five year restraining orders against Alan Stevens.
Chelmsford Crown Court heard that Stevens, of Foldcroft, threatened to set fire to Keeley Morgan’s home while she and her two young children, aged two and 11 months, were inside and send round a van load of armed men to collect his belongings after she ended their three-month relationship.
A month later he forced his way into the home of his previous partner, Jodie Corcorran, demanding to see their baby daughter. He then attacked both her and her friend as they protected the child.
Stevens pleaded guilty to putting Misss Morgan in fear of violence by harassment between August 22 and 26 last year and to two offences of common assault on September 26 against Miss Corcorran, and her friend, Kerry Durrant.
The court heard that Stevens had a previous conviction for an offence in 2001 involving another former girlfriend.
Prosecutor Michael Fraser said Miss Morgan, who had been with him for three months, ended the relationship on August 22. At 1am the following day a drunken Stevens called her and asked to stay as he had nowhere else to go.
He warned her that if she did not open the door, he would kill her and her children, saying: “I will tear you to pieces, I will kill the kids, I am going to be putting bricks through the window.”
The court heard that Stevens then rang again saying he was at a petrol station buying fuel to set fire to the house and car.
Miss Morgan later saw Stevens sneaking around outside her house carrying a bag. She refused to answer any more of his calls.
At 11pm on August 25, Stevens called her again claiming a van-load of people armed with knives and guns would be coming round to collect the rest of his possessions. She hung up and immediately called the police.
Stevens’ next victim, Miss Corcorran, ended their two-year relationship in May 2009 but the pair remained in touch so he could see his baby daughter.
On September 26 Stevens demanded to see the child. He kicked the front door open, grabbed Miss Corcorran by her arms and swung her out the way. In the living room he threw her to the side. Her friend, Kerry Durrant, was standing in front of the baby and she was pushed out of the way, hitting the window ledge.
Miss Corcorran then activated her police panic alarm.
Jane Oldfield, representing Stevens, said in mitigation the common thread between these offences was his return to alcohol abuse which had beens triggered by the breakdown of his relationship with Miss Corcorran.
“He recognises he has issues in relationships with women and in particular to partners,” she added.
Passing senetnce, judge Karen Walden-Smith described Stevens as a bully and said he had violent relationships with at least three partners.
She continued: “You are a man who lacks self control and a man who has very little empathy with your victims. You are a menace to young women who get into relationships with you. You have no sense of control.”