A woman’s life was described as “a misery” due to the relentless and threatening behavior of a stalker who made her feel unsafe and harassed. In a recent court case at Swansea Crown Court, it was revealed that Matthew Samuel had subjected his victim to a campaign of unwanted calls, texts, and visits to her home, causing significant distress. Samuel went as far as making 93 calls in a single day and threatening the woman with violence, including setting fire to her house and stabbing himself in front of her children’s play centre.
The court heard that Samuel, who has a history of stalking and harassment, had previously exhibited similar behaviour towards two ex-partners, including pouring petrol over driveways and making violent threats. Despite having multiple convictions for such offences, Samuel continued his abusive actions towards his latest victim, ignoring warnings and bail conditions not to contact her.
Regan Walters, the prosecutor, detailed how Samuel’s behavior escalated to the point where he would wait for the woman outside her house, make numerous threatening calls, and even self-harm during video calls. These actions not only caused fear and trauma to the victim but also disrupted her daily life, with Samuel going as far as threatening to spread false rumours about her treatment of her children.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Samuel had a turbulent upbringing marred by domestic violence, leading to psychological issues such as conduct disorder and dysfunctional personality traits. His defence lawyer, Hannah George, highlighted his reliance on substances and self-harm as coping mechanisms due to his troubled past.
In sentencing Samuel to 18 months in prison, Judge Paul Thomas KC condemned his behavior as immature and disturbing, more fitting for a teenage boy than a grown man. The judge emphasized that Samuel’s actions had caused significant distress to the victim and that previous sentences had failed to deter him from continuing his abusive conduct.
Despite being given a reduced sentence for pleading guilty, Samuel was warned by the judge that he was fortunate not to face additional charges for his actions while on bail. The judge stressed the seriousness of the crime and its impact on the victim’s life, urging Samuel to reflect on the harm he had caused and to seek rehabilitation during his time in custody.