Thug escapes jail after terrifying ‘campaign of harassment’ against married man he met on Grindr
A married man was “petrified” by a campaign of harassment initiated by a man he met on Grindr. (Envato Elements)
A man has avoided jail time after he initiated a “campaign of harassment” against a married man he met on Grindr.
Perry Marshall, 21, from Salford, pleaded guilty to putting a person in fear of violence by harassment in Manchester Crown Court, according to the Manchester Evening News.
The court heard that Marshall started talking to the victim on Grindr last year, and the pair subsequently met in a pub before having sex.
Marshall reacted “very badly” over a “perceived rejection”, and he began a 16-day long campaign of harassment against his victim.
The day after their hook-up, the victim woke up to find 14 “threatening” messages from Marshall. He asked Marshall to leave him alone and blocked his number, but the “campaign of harassment” only escalated.
Marshall continued to bombard his victim with threatening messages, and even turned up at his home on two occasions, where he banged on the door and threatened to cause harm to the man and his husband.
The man was left terrified when Marshall threatened to throw a firework at his husband. He subsequently arranged to meet Marshall and asked him to desist, but his pleas did not work.
Married man left ‘petrified’ by harassment from Grindr hook-up.
Marshall sent him 80 further messages before his victim changed his phone number, but the messages were still able to come in through WhatsApp.
The accused turned up at the man’s home on 5 July, 2020 and knocked repeatedly on the door. He came back later the same day and threw items at the door.
Marshall was arrested shortly afterwards but was released. He returned to his victim’s home just nine days later and he started shouting at the man through the window.
The man was left “petrified” by the harassment and was frightened of leaving his home, the court heard.
The defence told the court that Marshall had no previous convictions and that he faced a personal struggle after he left college.
The court also heard that Marshall’s mother had recently been diagnosed with a serious health condition when he started his campaign of harassment.
Mr Recorder O’Donohoe handed Marshall a nine month prison sentence, but suspended it for 18 months.
He must also perform 100 hours of unpaid work and take part in a rehabilitation programme.
