A man in Wales threatened his ex-partner with violence, including offering to pay a homeless man £50 to kill her, a court has heard. Sebastian Stoian, aged 45, made a series of menacing threats towards his former partner during phone calls on August 22nd this year. The incident occurred after the victim had visited Stoian’s home to return some furniture, leading to him becoming aggressive.
Stoian then handed her a sealed envelope and instructed her not to open it until she got home. Inside the envelope was a handwritten note from Stoian, revealing that he knew her new address and warning her that he could visit anytime. Subsequently, he called the woman multiple times that day and expressed anger, threatening to strangle or cut her throat. He also made vile comments about her deceased relatives and mentioned paying a homeless man to harm her.
Further escalating the situation, Stoian showed up at the woman’s residence and knocked on her door. Fearing for her safety, the victim contacted the police, resulting in Stoian’s arrest by two officers at his address in Temple Terrace, Lampeter. In court, Stoian admitted to making threats to kill and stalking involving fear of violence.
During the sentencing at Swansea Crown Court, the prosecution shared a personal impact statement from the victim, describing her ongoing fear and unease following the incident, causing her to experience nightmares and discomfort leaving her home. In mitigation, Stoian’s barrister highlighted that his actions were out of character, emphasizing his genuine remorse and the wake-up call his time in custody has been.
Addressing Stoian, Judge Geraint Walters acknowledged his clean record prior to the incident and noted signs of remorse, handing him a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years. The judge also mandated a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement, 100 hours of unpaid work, and a five-year restraining order against contacting the victim.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the serious consequences of threats and intimidation in domestic situations, prompting discussions around the impact of such behaviour on victims’ mental well-being and the importance of appropriate legal measures to protect individuals from harm.