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THE EX FILES

I dumped my violent ex but he started stalking me – he turned up at my kids’ school and sent sick death threats

WHEN Melissa Weatherill dumped her violent ex, she thought a court restraining order would keep him away from her.

But Karl Leighton turned even nastier, stalking the mum-of-three, turning up outside her kids' school and tracking her takeaways, leaving her terrified.

Melissa Weatherill's ex Karl Leighton stalked her and bombarded her with voicemails
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Melissa Weatherill's ex Karl Leighton stalked her and bombarded her with voicemailsCredit: Medavia

The 31-year-old, from County Durham, says she received hundreds of missed calls from Leighton - who even threatened he'd "prefer her dead than with someone else".

Speaking exclusively to Fabulous, Melissa tells her story...

Bustling through the front door, I ushered my three kids inside.

"Go and make a start on your homework before dinner," I said to the older two.

Suddenly my boyfriend Karl appeared in front of me, his face like thunder. "Where have you been?" he said.

"I was just getting the kids from school," I replied. I tried to play it cool, but Karl could be scary. 

The mum-of-three was terrified and had to move house to escape him
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The mum-of-three was terrified and had to move house to escape him

Early on in our relationship, he’d cheated on me with an ex and, although I forgave him, ever since he had been possessive and jealous. He treated me like I was the cheat, not him.

But I tried not to let it get to me. I knew he only acted that way because he loved me.

When Karl was in a good mood, our relationship was great.

Then one night in 2016, we had a little spat while out with friends. We carried on the party at our house, but Karl was in a terrible mood.

"I’m going to bed," he said, before storming upstairs without even saying goodbye to anyone. 

I tried to ignore it and enjoy the rest of the evening. Later that night, when everyone had left and I went upstairs to bed, I gently shook him awake.

Every time I blocked a number, Karl would ring from another one. He was leaving me hundreds of messages every week

Melissa Weatherill31

Suddenly, he span round and grabbed me by the hair. Slamming me onto the bed, he wrapped his hands around my throat.

"Karl," I spluttered as I struggled to breathe.

It was terrifying. I thought I was going to pass out, and the look in his eyes chilled me to the core.

It felt like hours, but after a minute or so he let go, punching a hole in the door.

I ran downstairs and desperately tried to open the front door, but Karl was too quick.

He pushed me down onto the stairs, blocking my escape route. I just sat there, sobbing.

"Go on then, cry like the little victim you are," he sneered, slapping me across the face. Karl was an ex-boxer, and I was scared he’d do even more damage.

"Why are you doing this?" I wept. But he didn’t answer.

Karl was still blocking the door, but eventually I took my chance. Dashing past him, I managed to get the door open and I ran out into the street.

Every time Melissa tried to leave Karl, he'd promise he had changed and win her over again
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Every time Melissa tried to leave Karl, he'd promise he had changed and win her over againCredit: Medavia

Karl was right behind me but my adrenaline pushed me and I managed to run into the corner shop at the end of the road before he caught me.

"Help, please help me," I begged. The shopkeeper called the police, who went to our house and arrested Karl.

He tried to claim he had no memory of what happened, but the claw marks on my neck were proof of his sick attack.

Karl pleaded guilty to assault and criminal damage. He escaped jail time, but was slapped with a restraining order stopping him from coming near me.

Then one day, a text from him pinged up on my phone. "Please don’t call the police. I just want to talk."

I was wary. But I still loved Karl. "I’m sorry for what happened, but I’ve changed," he wrote. "I’ve done a course on building better relationships, and it really helped me."

I felt myself wavering. He seemed so sincere, so I agreed to give him a second chance.

As I listened to the message, I froze. How did Karl know what we were having for dinner? Was he watching me?

Melissa Weatherill31

At first, Karl was perfect. It was like the beginning of our relationship all over again. But it wasn’t long before the cracks started to show. 

We started arguing over silly little things. Karl’s possessive streak came out again.

One day, I was on the phone to him and we started having a spat. "I’m coming over," he said.

He sounded angry, and I was scared. So I went to pick my kids up from school, thinking I’d take them to my mum’s until he calmed down.

When I got to the school and explained the situation, they offered to keep the kids there until I was ready to collect them.

But as I walked back to my car, I saw Karl standing behind it. He looked menacing.

As quickly as I could, I jumped in the car and locked all the doors.

Karl stood in front of the bonnet, glaring at me. Terrified, I rang the school receptionist.

They sent someone out to help usher me back inside and someone rang the police. Meanwhile Karl sat waiting outside the school for hours.

Melissa and Karl had an on-off relationship for 3 years
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Melissa and Karl had an on-off relationship for 3 yearsCredit: Medavia

"Please don’t tell the kids what’s going on," I begged one of the teachers. "I don’t want them to get scared."

Finally, I was able to leave out the back entrance. Police issued Karl with a harassment warning in October 2016. But when he came grovelling, I found myself giving in yet again.

"I promise things will be different this time," Karl said. "Let’s move house, have a fresh start."

Despite everything, I was pleased Karl was making an effort. We moved to the other side of town and I hoped things would change for good this time. 

But our turbulent relationship had taken its toll on my kids.

My youngest was only three, and too little to really understand what was going on.

But the other two hated Karl, and made their feelings very clear.

"Give him another chance, he’s really changed this time," I told them.

Karl’s cyber-stalking campaign was terrifying, but now I’m finally free, and I’m determined not to let him control our lives any longer

Melissa Weatherill31

After we moved, Karl became even more controlling.

I had to FaceTime him during every break at work, and if I was five minutes late home he kicked off.

He stopped me seeing friends and made me quit social media.

One day, I was getting my coat on to do the school run - when Karl stopped me.

"I don’t think so," he spat. "I can’t trust you not to talk to other men. I’ll go."

When the kids got home, they rushed up to me and gave me a hug. "It’s OK," I soothed.

"Please leave him, Mum," my son whispered.

Checking Karl was out of earshot, I promised: "I will. I mean it this time. But I just need to sort a few things out for us first."

After everything he’d put us through, I really was done with Karl.

Melissa says Karl has destroyed her faith in men
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Melissa says Karl has destroyed her faith in menCredit: Medavia

I was planning our escape when, one day in May 2018, I was making dinner when I heard Karl raging upstairs.

I ran up and found my little girl covered from head to toe in my make-up. I thought it was funny. But Karl was furious.

"Look at all this mess," he raged, dragging her downstairs and shoving her in a chair at the kitchen table. "Sit there, shut up and don’t move," he spat at her.

When I saw the look of terror in my little girl’s face, it was the final straw.

"We’re done," I told him firmly. "Please leave."

He started packing a bag, effing and blinding as he chucked things into it.

"You’ll come crawling back," he spat. "You’re nothing without me."

When he left to go to his mum’s, slamming the door behind him, I breathed a sigh of relief.

I know he didn’t believe me when I said it was over. I’d taken him back too many times before. But this time I really meant it.

I blocked his number and tried to move on with my life.

But one day I had a voicemail from an unknown number, saying: "I love you, please take me back."

When I heard Karl’s voice, my stomach dropped.

I ignored him, hoping he’d give up soon. But the voicemails kept coming.

"Wait until I see you, I won’t be responsible for what I do."

Terrified, I called the police. But every time I blocked a number, Karl would ring from another one.

He was leaving me hundreds of messages every week.

"Why’ve you got two chicken wraps for dinner?" he said in one chilling voicemail. "Who’ve you got round there, you slag?"

I was in the kitchen plating up a takeaway for me and my mum. As I listened to the message, I froze.

How did Karl know what we were having for dinner? Was he watching me?

Terrified, I dashed round the house, closing all the curtains in case he was looking in. 

Later, I realised Karl had hacked my emails and seen my order with Just Eat. "He’s not going to stop, is he?" I said to my mum.

He knew what I was having for tea, when I was at work, when I left the house.

I was a wreck and constantly on high alert. One night though, as I listened to yet another voicemail, my heart stopped.

"I’d prefer you dead than with anyone else," he threatened. "If you ever move on, I’ll stab you."

There was no doubt in my mind that he meant every word.

I called the police, and when they came round and heard all the voicemails, they were shocked.

Police arrested Karl, and found two phones and a tablet that he’d been using to harass me.

WHERE CAN I GET HELP?

You don't have to suffer in silence.

If you are experiencing domestic violence or someone you know is there are groups that can help.

Refuge runs a free, 24-hour helpline on 0808 2000 247.

You can also visit the website or contact Women’s Aid.

Karl Leighton, of Church Street, Hartlepool, admitted stalking at Teeside Crown Court in August 2018.

Judge Howard Crowson described his behaviour as "frightening and persistent" as he jailed him for 32 weeks.

He also gave him a lifetime restraining order. 

I was so relieved Karl was finally out of my life. Knowing he was behind bars made me feel safe for the first time in ages.

But just two weeks later, I was driving to my mum’s when I saw Karl walking down the street.

He’d done time on remand and been let out early, and nobody had even warned me. 

All those feelings of fear and terror came flooding back.

"I’m moving house," I told my mum after I’d calmed down. "I can’t risk staying around here with him back out on the streets."

The kids and I moved to a different town, my mum even moved too. Now we’re all trying to move on.

All of us are having counselling to try and deal with what happened. The kids still find it tough, but we’re getting through it together. 

I still get scared that Karl might find out where we are and come after me, and I find it hard to trust men at all now.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

More recently, he was charged and convicted of breaking an injunction. He got a 12 weeks suspended sentence and electronic tag for 12 weeks - I'm glad the police are taking it seriously.

Karl’s cyber-stalking campaign was terrifying, but now I’m finally free, and I’m determined not to let him control our lives any longer.