Formby stalker threatened to 'scalp' ex-girlfriend and kill members of her family....

Liverpool Crown Court

'Obsessive' sound engineer fails to win cut in his jail sentence

An ‘obsessive’ ex who terrorised his former girlfriend with menacing text messages and phone calls has been told by top judges he cannot complain about his jail term.

Anthony Paul Murphy bombarded his ex-partner, Helena Baptista, with more than 400 texts and about 1,000 calls - flouting a court order banning him from having any contact with her.

The sound engineer’s messages became more frightening as he threatened to harm her and to kill members of her family.

Murphy, 31, of The Evergreens, Formby, Liverpool, was jailed for two years and 11 months at the city’s crown court in February, after he admitted breaching a non-molestation order.

He challenged his jail term at London’s Criminal Appeal Court on Tuesday (November 11), with his lawyers arguing it was ‘too long’ for his crimes.

But his appeal bid was rejected by two of the country’s most senior judges, who said the sentence could not be criticised in light of the terror he inflicted on his victim.

The court heard Murphy was in a relationship with Ms Baptista for about three years before they split in June 2012.

Following their break-up he started sending her text messages asking to get back together.

In a bid to stop his unwanted attentions, she got a court order to prevent him from contacting her.

But, ignoring the ban completely, he continued communicating with her and found himself before magistrates in September 2012.

He was handed a four-month suspended sentence and the stern warning to stop getting in touch with Ms Baptista was repeated.

Despite this, he started contacting her again, showering her with texts, phone calls and Facebook messages between April and May 2013.

His messages became more threatening and he told her she had ruined his life.

He was arrested and warned yet again to stop contacting her before being released on bail.

But he continued his campaign of harrassment, messaging her on a daily basis between July and September.

He threatened to kill members of her family and told her he would get people to ‘scalp’ her.

He also made phone calls to her mother.

The court heard that, before his catalogue of offending against his ex-partner, he had no criminal history.

His lawyers said he had carved out a successful career in the music industry, working as a sound engineer, and was well-loved and supported by his family.

They also said his offending coincided with the onset of depression and argued his jail term should have been shorter to reflect his personal mitigation.

But, dismissing his appeal, Judge Peter Collier QC said the sentence was justified in light of the volume of calls and messages and the serious threats made.

Sitting with Mr Justice Coulson, he added: “It is our judgment that the total sentence of 35 months’ imprisonment for this catalogue of offending cannot be criticised and does also take account of the personal features.

“These included his depression, the fact he had always been in employment and that he had family who were supportive of him.

“None of those things detract from the dreadful nature of what he did or the behaviour to which he subjected Ms Baptista.”