A terrified woman hid in an upstairs bedroom as her drunken ex-partner used ladders to climb up her house, a court heard.
Garry Toman, 42, went to the woman’s home near Northallerton and started banging on her front door.
He then propped a set of ladders on the front of her house and began climbing up the wall towards the upstairs bedroom window where she was hiding and knocked on the window, York Magistrates’ Court heard.
Prosecutor Melanie Ibbotson said the drunken ladder incident was part of a month-long harassment campaign against the named woman.
She said that Toman and the victim had been in a short relationship between the summer and December last year.
“She broke up with him because he began sending her unwanted messages and turning up at her property unannounced,” added Ms Ibbotson.
The victim called police telling them that Toman, a builder, had “bombarded” her with Snapchat messages which made her fear for her safety. He had also sent her voice notes and messages “containing volatile and derogatory language”.
She had broken up with the Toman on December 4. The following day began “amicably”, but when she told him she was spending the day with a work colleague, he assumed she was in another relationship.
“She said at this point he became volatile,” added Ms Ibbotson.
On December 6, at about 3.45am, the victim called police again after Toman went to her house in Brompton and started banging on her door.
Toman, of Corber Hill, Brompton, was arrested and bailed on condition that he didn’t contact her.
However, in the early hours of January 11 this year, he went back to the victim’s house and started banging on her door and throwing “items” at her bedroom window.
“She told him to go away,” said Ms Ibbotson.
“He then accused her of having someone in the house. She tells him she is going to contact police.”
However, when officers arrived, Toman had gone.
“About an hour after this, she hears banging again at the door,” added Ms Ibbotson.
“Items are thrown at the window. She seems him walking towards the house with a ladder. He places the ladder up against the wall, climbing up and knocking on the bedroom window. She was in absolute fear at this point and has hidden in (the) bedroom.”
The “petrified” woman, who is a mother, moved to another bedroom to hide and called police. The incident left her “stressed and upset” and “particularly concerned that (Toman) hadn’t paid any attention to his bail conditions”.
Toman was arrested again and brought in for questioning when he admitted the harassment.
“He said he had no intention of kicking off, saying he was cold and wanted to stay on (the victim’s) couch,” said Ms Ibbotson.
He told officers he had drunk two bottles of wine at a friend’s house before he went to his ex-partner’s home.
“He said he was knocking at the door and wasn’t banging, and didn’t throw anything at the window,” added Ms Ibbotson.
He claimed that he and the woman still loved each other but that he had been struggling with his mental health.
Toman, who has a previous conviction for common assault from 2010, was charged with harassment and pleaded guilty to the offence which occurred between early December 2025 and January 11 this year.
He appeared in court for sentence via video link on Tuesday, January 27, after being remanded in custody following his guilty plea earlier in the month.
His solicitor Martin Townend said that Toman had “reacted badly” due to his emotional state and his mistaken belief that the victim was seeing another man.
He said that Toman had never been violent towards the woman and believed at the time that they may spend Christmas together and rekindle their relationship.
He said that on the day he climbed up the woman’s house, Toman had been to the funeral of an old friend and had been drinking.
“He accepts he had an issue with drink but over the last 12 months he has overcome that addiction, but because of the friend’s funeral he went on a bender… and goes to the complainant’s house to speak to her,” added Mr Townend.
“He’s tapping on the window because it’s minus two (degrees) outside and he wants to sleep on the sofa because he’s drunk. He’s always struggled with his mental health. He’s battling with a few issues.”
Mr Townend said that Toman had been getting help from support charities to help with his emotional well-being and alcohol issues.
A character reference from his employer, a building contractor, described him as “honest, calm and reliable”.
Magistrates said the case could be dealt with by way of a community disposal because Toman had taken steps to deal with his problems.
He was given an 18-month community order with 120 hours of unpaid work and up to 20 rehabilitation-activity days.
He was also made subject to a two-year restraining order banning him from contacting the victim. In addition, he was ordered to pay £85 costs and a victim surcharge of £114.
Be the first to comment