Matthew Ward bombarded his victim with threatening messages as part of his campaign
Matthew Ward(Image: West Yorkshire Police)
A thug who set started a fire outside his former partner’s home and sent her a picture has been jailed.
Matthew Ward, 33, has been locked up for the terrifying ordeal which also saw him bombard the woman with messages and “monitor” her home. Prosecutor Gabrielle Coates told Leeds Crown Court on Wednesday, April 22: “He has been subject to a restraining order since December 2024, with a condition not to contact her. The victim is his ex-partner, and they separated in 2024. On the 22nd of December last year, she got a series of emails from the defendant, enquiring about her plans for Christmas.”
The court heard that Ward, who shares two children with the woman, attended on Christmas Day with gifts for them, and the next day, called and texted her a number of times. Ms Coates said: “He made threats to damage her car if she didn’t reply. She didn’t reply or answer and the following day she was out of her address when she got a text message showing a picture of a small fire set outside of her address. She returned home and the fire had been put out and the defendant had left the property.
“Shortly after, he sent a picture of her friend’s address and further messages saying, ‘I know you’re here, your clothes are on the floor, you tramp.’ He sent further messages threatening to destroy her car.”
The court heard that later the same day, Ward attended at the woman’s home and knocked on the door, but she was asleep. He sent further messages on December 28, threatening to attack her house next. Ms Coates said: “He told her he was monitoring it. He suggests she shouldn’t keep her windows open.”
Ward was arrested on January 21 this year and interviewed by police. He told officers he was not responsible for the offences and said he was at his home when her vehicle was damaged.
The court heard he had 38 previous convictions on his record for 78 offences, including theft.
Recorder Goodwin said she had read a victim personal statement from the woman. She said: “I have taken note of it. It is a very distressing account of how he has ‘terrorised and stalked her from one end of Leeds to another.’
“It recounts the stress and pressure she has felt under by his frightening conduct and persistent level of this conduct.
“A pre-sentence report sets out a very unhappy picture, where the Probation are saying ‘Look, we can’t work with him because of the persistent breaches.'”
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The court heard Ward had previously pleaded guilty to breaching a restraining order and arson. Mitigating, Stephen Smithson, said: “He has lived dishonestly and has gone to prison, met a lady, had children.”
It was said that one of the children has a severe disability, and the barrister added: “The fact that they stuck together so long is significant and shows his determination to do the right thing and that has obviously come to an end.”
The judge jailed Ward for two years and eight months and told him: “You have an appalling history of breaching court orders, and in particular, the breach of the order put in place by the magistrates, the restraining order, in December 2024.
“I have seen the pre-sentence report, which indicates quite frankly, that you’re at a high risk of reoffending and a high risk of reoffending in a violent way and that future is mapped out for you until you take control and change your life.”
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