A spurned lover who “relentlessly” messaged his former boyfriend and new girlfriend after he learned the pair were seeing each other has narrowly avoided jail.
Ricky Small couldn’t cope with the fact his ex-lover was now seeing someone else after they split up and started sending him abusive messages on Snapchat, as well as his new partner.
Ricky Small sent abusive messages to the partner of his former boyfriend on Snapchat and threatened her
The 32-year-old also turned up drunk at his former boyfriend’s home in Gillingham on at least 14 occasions shouting obscenities through his Ring doorbell and trying to peer through his windows after the couple split up in early 2023 because the relationship had become “toxic”.
Not stopping there, he also sent the man at least 76 abusive and threatening messages during an eight-day period and then targeted his new girlfriend via the same social media app threatening her and abusing her and telling her to “watch her back”.
Small, of Baker Close, Sittingbourne was later charged with stalking in fear of violence on his former boyfriend and harassment in fear of violence in relation to his former partner’s new girlfriend and admitted both offences when he appeared in court in October.
A pre-sentencing report was ordered and he returned to Medway Magistrates’ Court on January 2 to learn his fate.
The court heard Small stalked his former boyfriend between March 31, 2023, and April 14, the same year and that he harassed the man’s new partner between April 1, 2023 and June 5, the same year when he sent her messages on Snapchat.
Ricky Small sent the abusive messages on Snapchat. Photo: Police.
Lucie Fish, prosecuting, said the two charges were in relation to Small “relentlessly” messaging both his former boyfriend and his new partner after the couple split.
She added: “There were lots of messages and there were 76 sent within eight days and he turned up at his work and his address in Gillingham on 14 different occasions.
“He would shout through the Ring doorbell and he was in an intoxicated state and the victim’s mother had to put a blanket over her door (so Small couldn’t see them indoors).
“He also sent 37 voice recordings which contained verbal abuse to his new partner threatening that he would get her and called her a fat w**** and told her to watch her back as well.
“It was persistent and they had to make changes to their lifestyles and he’s also got a previous conviction for computer misuse which is historic and happened in 2010, but is highly relevant (to this case).”
Ricky Small has been ordered to stay away from the couple for two years
Both victims had also given impact statements with Small’s former boyfriend saying he turned up at his home at all hours, both day and night.
He said he was in fear of what Small might do to him in the future and that his behaviour could not continue as it was having a bad effect on him and his family and that he no longer wanted to live in fear.
His new partner also said she had been distressed and upset by the constant threats Small made to her and had trouble sleeping at night in case he turned up and that she was worried about that as she didn’t even know what Small looked like as she had never met him.
Small also made attempts to contact the woman’s former partner in a bid to try and find out more information about her.
A probation officer who interviewed Small told the court he had told him the relationship with his boyfriend had ended at the beginning of 2023 soon after Small’s father died in October 2022.
The officer relayed to the court that Small had shortly after his father’s death been on holiday to the Maldives with his then-boyfriend, but after he then became paranoid about him cheating on him as he said he had a history of doing that.
Ricky Small admitted stalking and harassment when he appeared in court in October
The court also heard after the death of his father Small started drinking more but that he never had any intention of carrying out the threats and his underline anger and comments manifested under the influence of alcohol.
The magistrates were also told Small was a carer for his mum and had to cook and clean for her and that he had been assessed as a medium risk of harm to his victims.
Imogen Carrigan, defending, told magistrates the former couple, who are both bisexual, started their exclusive relationship in 2019 and split up in March 2023.
She added: “The relationship became toxic in the last year and he found out about his new girlfriend via a screenshot of them kissing with the message ‘don’t be jel (jealous)’.
“That’s how he found out they were seeing each other and that was while he was still in the relationship (with him).
“And he had an outpouring of grief because his dad had died and he was depressed at the time and even tried to kill himself.”
The case was heard at Medway Magistrates’ Court. Stock picture
However, Ms Carrigan also told the court that Small, who is on Universal Credit and claims Carers’ Allowance, was now in a better place and concentrating on caring for his mum and looking for a job and was no longer drinking any alcohol.
She added: “He started sending stupid messages, but doesn’t even know where she lives (the female victim). He was venting, but no longer drinking and is caring for his mum and wants to find part-time work.
“There was little or no planning, it was impulsive.”
Magistrates decided to place Small on a high-level community order – but also told him his “behaviour was unacceptable” and that he came close to being jailed.
The bench placed Small on a 24-month order which will see him attend 35 rehabilitation sessions.
He was also ordered to attend a building better relationships course for 30 sessions and must also carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.
Small was also ordered to wear a GPS monitoring tag for six months and was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £114 and £85 court costs.
A two-year restraining order was also issued which prevents Small from contacting either victim.