Three year jail term for relentlessly harassing woman

Martyn Johnson (37) was sentenced to three years in prison when he appeared before Sheffield Crown Court last week.

Johnson, of High Street, Thurnscoe, was first convicted last December for assaulting a woman but given a suspended sentence.

He was ordered not to contact the victim but from February 2022, less than three months after his conviction, Johnson began contacting her on withheld numbers, demanding to know where she was, threatening her and turning up to places where she was, leaving her in constant fear for her safety.

Johnson also contacted people who knew her and being aggressive.

In June, he violently assaulted the woman, leaving her with head injuries, and he was arrested.

He answered “no comment” during his interview, refusing to co-operate, but with the evidence before him, he was charged with assault by beating, breach of a restraining order by harassment and causing actual bodily harm.

Following a trial, Johnson was found guilty of all three offences in July.

Last Tuesday, he was sentenced to three years in prison and given a further restraining order preventing him from contacting the woman or going within 100 metres of her address.

PC Kayleigh Banks, who led the investigation, said: “Johnson has shown he has no regards for the law as he continued to harass and abuse this woman despite his previous conviction, and I welcome this sentence as it finally allows her to move forward with her life.

“This woman has been through a horrific ordeal, that not only impacted her but also those around her due to Johnson’s actions, and I’d like to thank her for her bravery coming forward and assisting with the investigation, which has led to him now spending a significant amount of time behind bars.

“We take all incidents of violence against women and girls seriously and it is a priority at South Yorkshire Police so if you want to report someone for crimes of this nature, please come forward and we will bring the perpetrators to justice.”