Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Friday 11th April 2025 at 08:05hrs
A jealous stalker who broke into his ex-partner’s home armed with a kitchen knife has been sentenced to more than five years in prison.
Glenn Armstrong, 37, of Spennymoor, was jailed for five years and four months at Teesside Crown Court on April 7th after pleading guilty to aggravated burglary and stalking involving fear of violence.
The court heard how Armstrong had subjected his former partner to a barrage of unwanted messages prior to the terrifying incident.
In these messages, he chillingly threatened to kill the woman and one of her friends, boasting about having access to “knives, guns, and dogs.” In one particularly disturbing message, he wrote: “20 years in jail don’t bother me, I’ll laugh cos you’ll be dead haha.”
The victim’s ordeal culminated in the early hours of Thursday, January 2nd, at around 4 am, when Armstrong broke into her home in Spennymoor.
Responding to an immediate call, police officers arrived at the scene and found Armstrong at the top of the stairs in possession of a large kitchen knife. He was subsequently Tasered and taken into custody.
Following his arrest, Armstrong was charged with aggravated burglary and stalking involving fear of violence.
He pleaded guilty to both charges, leading to the lengthy prison sentence and an indefinite restraining order, which now prevents him from contacting his victim.
In a moving victim impact statement read to the court, the woman detailed the profound impact of Armstrong’s relentless harassment.
“All the constant messages and calls from him made me feel really intimidated. I have asked him to stop countless times and he never does,” she said.
“I have tried to block him and stop him from contacting me but he just finds another way to do so. I don’t know what else I could have done.”
She added, “This has made me feel so stressed. I am worried about my own safety now. I worry that Glenn will come to the property again, contact me, try and harm me – all of these thoughts are just going around in my head and I need him to leave me alone.”
PC Lynette Baker, from Bishop Auckland Safeguarding Team, who led the investigation, condemned Armstrong’s actions.
“This was a terrifying incident for the woman who woke up in the middle of the night to find Armstrong in her home armed with a knife,” she said.
“His actions that night were abhorrent and left the woman fearing she would be killed.”
PC Baker praised the victim’s quick thinking in calling the police, which led to Armstrong’s swift detention.
“I hope this sentence allows her to move on with her life and provides her with some degree of comfort, knowing that justice has been served and that Armstrong is now behind bars.”
Highlighting the importance of reporting stalking, PC Baker urged anyone experiencing such behaviour to come forward.
“If you are experiencing stalking, no matter how small or insignificant you think your stalker’s behaviour is, tell someone.
As police, we will do everything we can to investigate and bring your perpetrator to justice and can provide safeguarding, support, and reassurance.”
She also emphasized the support available through partner agencies and charities for those not ready to report to the police directly.
Anyone experiencing stalking is urged to call police on 101, or dial 999 in an emergency.
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