Woman endured threats of mutilation by ex-boyfriend

At one stage Lance Wetherall told Diretta Buretta he would not let anybody else be her boyfriend because they were meant to be together.

Subsequently he sent her a message saying he had thought about what to do if she would not see him and understood it would cost 600 to get somebody to break her legs and draw a line across her face.

Days after she put a block on his profile on her Facebook page Wetherall sent a mobile phone text saying he had got someone to "f..k you over big time" and referred to her pretty face being scarred.

Philip Adams, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court yesterday: "She was terrified, afraid to go out. She describes living in fear, looking over her shoulder. As a result of the defendant's continued behaviour she had a panic alarm fitted at her premises by the police and was issued with a personal alarm. She lost weight because of the worry and felt as if her life was on hold."

He told the court Miss Buretta, from Poland, met Wetherall when she came to the UK to study and they were in a relationship for about four years.

She described him as being controlling and possessive. On February 3 they were at her address in Leeds when they argued and he grabbed her in a bear hug placing his hand over her mouth and pushed her into the bedroom.

He then threw her on the bed and threatened to kill her. He grabbed her by the throat and squeezed for about 20 seconds.

Mr Adams said she did not report the assault at that time but did so on February 24 after she finished work and found him waiting for her. He was upset about her going to see a friend that night and after they walked together he suggested finishing their lives together.

He had previously threatened to jump from a bridge with bricks tied to his legs. She told him he was frightening her and when he walked off she went to the nearby police station and told them what had been happening.

He was arrested but denied the allegations. He was bailed with a condition not to communicate with her but continued making phone calls and sending texts in spite of her telling him she did not want to hear from him.

Gerald Hendron, for Wetherall, said following his arrest he had spent three months in custody which had given him time to realise his behaviour was inappropriate and accept the relationship was over.

Wetherall, 23, of Jane Street, Shipley, admitted common assault and harassment.

Imposing a restraining order banning him from contacting Miss Buretta by text or internet or going within 100 metres of her home address, Judge Scott Wolstenholme said his concern was to protect her.

He said also made a two year community order with supervision and a condition of attending an integrated domestic abuse programme.