'My ex is so obsessed with me I think he could kill me'

A thug made threats to kill his former partner and told her he would "cut her up" before bombarding her with 140 calls in one day. The victim said he treated her like she was his property and she said she believes he is capable of carrying out his threats. Craig Bray, 28, from Newport , and the victim had been in a relationship and have a child together, but they broke up two years ago.

On January 12 he turned up at her home and argued with her by claiming she had been unfaithful to him. A sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Wednesday heard he threw a can of cherry coke over her and slapped her to the face. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here .

On February 12 the victim received a phone call from the defendant and told her if she hung up he would "hurt her". He went on to call her another 140 times that day, telling her he would "have her" and "cut her up". Prosecutor Hannah Friedman said Bray told the victim he had followed her in a taxi, that he was in possession of a knife and again told her he would "cut her up".

The victim put her father on the phone in an attempt to dissuade the defendant from calling her, but he threatened to stab her in neck and to come to her work.

He said he would "go to prison for the rest of his life but not until she was under". The defendant made further attempts to call the victim in the following days but she didn't answer. The victim said Bray was "willing to do anything to contact her" and described him as "obsessed" and "unable to stay away".

She said: "

He's made multiple threats to hurt and kill me. I believe he's capable of this and will never leave me alone. He believes I am his and I'm his property. "

It's affected my mental health and I no longer work because of Bray and the times he accused me of cheating. If it wasn't for my children I would struggle to get up and leave the house." The defendant also committed a burglary at Cartref Yn Y Coed care home in Newport where he stole a television from the communal area.

He had initially been challenged by a caretaker but claimed he was a resident's grandson. The defendant was later identified on CCTV. Bray, of Albany Chambers, later pleaded guilty to assault by beating, harassment and burglary.

The court heard he has 12 previous convictions including four offences of burglary. In mitigation Gareth Williams described his client's behaviour as "deplorable" but said the defendant was remorseful and struggled to listen back to his words. The barrister said his client wishes to have contact with his child following his release from prison.

Recorder Dyfed Thomas sentenced Bray to a total of 932 days. The defendant was also made subject to a restraining order for 10 years. Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here .

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