A STALKER faked a pregnancy, swerved her car into her ex and bombarded him with texts in a relentless campaign of harassment.
Sophie Clifford failed to accept her on-off relationship with the victim had ended and ignored his pleas not to contact him anymore.
The 31-year-old followed her ex to the gym and drove towards him as he walked with a pal during the terrifying stalking ordeal.
He was left fearing he would be hit by the vehicle as it “skimmed” past him in the car park.
Clifford also left a bracelet with his name on it in his car and sent him with countless messages between December 28 and January 28.
She even callously lied about being pregnant in order to “get his attention”.
Clifford has now been handed a 12-month community order after pleading guilty to stalking and harassment.
Swindon Magistrates’ was told the victim warned Clifford he would go to the in October 2024 if she did not stop hounding him.
The victim said: “I felt physically unsafe. She could cause me physical harm and I never thought she could do such a thing.
“I thought ‘Will other people be hurt by Sophie because of the quarrel we had?’
“I pushed people away in my life because I’m worried about what she may do. I’m worried about her coming back to my house and running into my dad, who is vulnerable.
“I feel on edge and am worried I’m being watched when talking to female friends, I would catch her looking at us. She messaged one of the girls I was seeing to sabotage my image.
“This has changed my personality, I feel miserable and I refuse to meet anyone new so that I can avoid this situation happening again.
“I have no motivation to create any romantic relations.”
In mitigation, her lawyer said Clifford had faced personal challenges during the relationship that affected her mental health.
She also told the court the relationship was “toxic” and that the ordeal has been “exceedingly traumatic for her as well”.
In her own statement, Clifford, from , said: “I have not acted this way to anyone else.
“I’ve addressed my emotional wellbeing, I take full responsibility, and am actively making sure nothing like this happens again.”
As well as a community order, Clifford was ordered to pay a £292 fine as well as £85 court costs and £114 to fund victim services.
