Man who vowed to smash ex's mother's grave jailed

The judge who jailed Darren Johnson said his victim needed "immediate protection"

A man who threatened to smash the grave of his ex-girlfriend's mother and repeatedly made threats to kill has been jailed.

Darren Johnson, 48, from Carlisle, was given a restraining order in 2022 which banned him from contacting the woman indefinitely.

Johnson appeared at Carlisle Crown Court for sentencing after he admitted to twice flouting the restraining order and stalking her.

He was jailed for two years and three months, with the judge concluding: "Your victim needs immediate protection from you."

Johnson was previously handed the restraining order as part of a punishment which also included an immediate 12-month jail term.

He had previously assaulted the woman by grabbing her forearms and throat.

The court had heard Johnson had arrived at her home looking "full of hell", held a knife to his own neck, spat repeatedly and deliberately in his ex's face and wrecked her phone with a mallet.

'You're dead'

A prosecutor told how he turned up at the woman's home in October 2024 and her workplace a few days later.

In voicemails to her, Johnson repeatedly stated "you're dead".

In one message, he said: "I'm going to smash your mam's grave up right now.

"Better be on your guard."

In an impact statement, the woman spoke of suffering nightmares, flashbacks, being scared to leave her home and expressed a fear Johnson would "terrorise me until the day I die".

She described having no trust in men, and added: "It is going to take me a long time to build myself back up."

Defence solicitor Sean Harkin told the court Johnson was committed to addressing personal issues and said: "He accepts the relationship is over.

"Through me he expresses remorse for his actions."

The court heard Johnson, previously of Garden Street, off Botchergate, had 61 previous offences on his criminal record, including other assaults on his former partner.

Passing sentence, Judge Michael Fanning told him: "I am satisfied you intended to maximise fear and distress."

Johnson also remains subject to a restraining order which bans him from having any contact with the woman.