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Pregnant woman in Wye, near Ashford, threatened by knife-wielding ex-boyfriend as he slashed paddling pool

A bully forced his pregnant ex-girlfriend to flee her home with threats of rape, violence and death.

Marc Self also slashed a paddling pool with a knife at the victim's home in Wye, near Ashford, then damaged her clothesline and roof tile.

Marc Self, from Bromley, threatened his pregnant ex in Wye, near Ashford
Marc Self, from Bromley, threatened his pregnant ex in Wye, near Ashford

The 33-year-old terrorised her in July this year, leaving up to 40 missed calls on some days, after their relationship deteriorated.

The labourer was jailed at Canterbury Crown Court on Tuesday, where prosecutors disclosed his outbursts forced her to relocate to a safehouse.

Now, Self claims he is suffering “considerable emotional distress” while being held inside HMP Elmley. He suffers from ADHD and has been unable to access his medication, according to his solicitor.

The beginning of Self’s offending was signalled when neighbours overheard him threatening to rape his former partner during a row at her property on July 19.

After refusing to leave he threatened to break her jaw, then slashed a child’s paddling pool with a blade when she said she would call 999, Oliver Kirk explained.

Marc Self, 33, said "cool" as he was sent to the cells
Marc Self, 33, said "cool" as he was sent to the cells

Self was arrested the same day and subsequently released with bail conditions prohibiting him from contacting his ex-girlfriend.

But the father-of-four “made a number of threats and went to the address almost straight away,” Mr Kirk continued.

“He made a number of attempts to contact [her], 40 missed calls a day were received.”

Self would threaten to break her legs, kill her, go to her address and “accuse her of having other men in the house,” Mr Kirk explained

Despite police issuing the victim a personal safety alarm on July 20, she discovered her abuser shouting in her garden.

“What you said to that pregnant lady was that you were going to break her jaw and rape her..."

As she fled and hid upstairs, Self, of Bromley, damaged her clothesline and a roof tile while hurling abuse.

Self, who has 12 previous convictions for 17 offences, was arrested on August 18 and remanded into custody.

Meanwhile, the victim was placed in a safehouse where she remains, Mr Kirk said.

Handing down a two years and eight months sentence, Judge Simon Taylor KC told Self he had made “severe threats to a lady carrying an unborn child”.

“What you said to that pregnant lady was that you were going to break her jaw and rape her,” he added.

Representing Self, Max Reeves said he is “faced with considerable emotional distress” while being held in custody.

He said the defendant, who was supported by friends in the public gallery, suffers from ADHD and has been unable to access medication in prison.

When Judge Taylor ordered Self to the cells after delivering his sentencing remarks, he replied: “Cool.”

Self pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal damage and harassment with fear of violence at an early opportunity.

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