A BUSINESS owner sobbed as he appeared in court for assaulting his ex-girlfriend before stalking her over three months.

Aiden Cupid, of Cheltenham Street in Barrow, was sentenced at Preston Crown Court on August 2 after pleading guilty to charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and stalking involving serious alarm or distress.

Prosecutor Emily Land said the 46-year-old and his ex-partner had been in a relationship for almost a year when the defendant dragged her across the floor at a caravan at the Stanwix Park Holiday Centre in Silloth.

Ms Land said: “The assault left the complainant with soreness to her head as well as significant bruising to both of her arms, back and legs.

“The assault occurred on April 10 2023 when the defendant’s mood changed after he received a message that one of his friends had passed away.”

The court was told the offence was committed while in the presence of three of the victim’s children.

Ms Land told the court the victim had rung a friend during the assault who heard her screaming down the phone ‘get off me, get off me’ and ‘Aiden’s been ragging me all over the caravan’.

The court heard details of how Cupid stalked the complainant between April 18 – July 13 last year.

Ms Land said the defendant sent multiple messages to the victim on social media which would sometimes ‘take a turn’.

She told the court Cupid also created several Snapchat accounts, that he would send her flowers and that he would wave at the complainant’s children as she was driving to work.

The prosecution said on April 26 Cupid tried to give her birthday cards in a black bin bag when she was picking up her children from school.

Ms Land said the defendant then threatened to send a video of him and the woman having sexual intercourse to the father of the complainant’s children.

The victim described how she no longer felt safe in her own home, that she had sleepless nights and that she had become hypervigilant as a result of the defendant’s actions, the court was told.

In mitigation David Trainor said his client was ‘embarrassed' about being before the court.

Mr Trainor added: “He is a successful businessman and employs seven people at a car garage in Barrow.

“There have been no incidents since he was charged with these offences in July 2023. He is distressed about being here and knows he could be locked up today.

“He has referred himself to a psychotherapist and embarks on a 160-mile round trip for every appointment.

“Sending him to prison would have an impact on his employees.”

Recorder Thomas Moran said he was ‘just about’ persuaded that he could step back from imposing an immediate custodial sentence as he believed Cupid had a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

He was sentenced to a 38-week sentence suspended for two years.

As part of the suspended sentence Recorder Moran ordered Cupid to complete 80 hours of unpaid work, 20 rehabilitation requirement days and to complete the Building Better Relationships Programme.

Cupid was also ordered to pay court costs of £800 in full within 28 days.