A 29-YEAR-OLD man who bombarded a woman with more than 800 phone calls in the space of five days has been jailed for three months.
Jose Filipe Santos Balelo made the calls between 20 and 24 November, the Magistrate’s Court heard.
And on 21 December, he breached bail conditions by making another 149 calls – using other people’s phones when the woman blocked his number.
The unwanted contact began on 20 November, with the victim reporting to the States police that she felt unsafe. When her phone rang during the meeting with police, an officer took the call and warned Valelo to stop calling. Mr Lee said the warning went unheeded, with 206 calls being made that day, 354 more the next day and 272 the day after that, as well as messages that became increasingly abusive.
Crown Advocate Lauren Taylor, prosecuting, said Balelo also told the woman that he would make false accusations to the States police that she was selling drugs.
Advocate Allana Binnie, defending, said Balelo accepted his behaviour was “excessive and unreasonable” and had written a letter of remorse.
She said that he had wanted to collect some belongings of his that were in the woman’s house. “The focus was on the return of his belongings,” she said.
Advocate Binnie said Balelo would readily agree to “anything that probation think would be helpful for him”.
However, Assistant Magistrate Adam Clarke said prison was the only option.
He told Balelo: “This has clearly been a frightening experience for the complainant.
“You have failed to comply with court orders.
“The offence crosses the custodial threshold and we do not think you are suitable for a community sentence.”
