Hastings abuser Gary Hockaday jailed for harassing solicitor

Gary Hockaday was angry about his break-up, and turned his anger towards the lawyer working on behalf of his ex in Hastings.

He bombarded her with more than 1,000 abusive emails and turned up at her legal practice to intimidate her.

The woman, who The Argus has chosen not to name, said Hockaday had left repeated reviews of her family law business on Google.

Some of the abuse directed to her was sexual and the woman said: “I found myself having to look over my shoulder all the time, my concern is there will be no end.”

“He made it clear there was a personal vendetta,” she said.

At Hove Crown Court Hockaday admitted harassment, and was jailed for a total of 13 months.

Brighton UK 31 May 2013 - Hove Crown Court .Photograph taken by Simon Dack.SD310513C3..

Rio Pahlavanpour, prosecuting, said the appalling abuse started over family law proceedings over a joint property with his ex.

Hockaday turned his fury on the solicitor, branding her as a “parasite”, “Pinocchio”, and and a lewd word.

“Jimmy Saville is coming to get you,” he wrote in one vile email.

Sir Jimmy Saville PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo..

Mr Pahlavanpour said: “He wanted to ruin her professional reputation with references of a sexual nature and a defamatory nature”.

The victim said: “His emails became increasingly aggressive, malicious and libellous.

“The emails were sent at all times of the day and night, sometimes 20 at a time. I became anxious every time I got a notification on my phone of a new email.”

Hannah Hurley, defending, said Hockaday, formerly of South Terrace, Hastings, has mental health difficulties.

But Judge Martin Huseyin said Hockaday was in breach of a suspended sentence, which had not stopped his abusive behaviour.

Gary Hockaday has been jailed for harassment in Hastings, threatening a woman that "Jimmy Saville is going to get you" among many abusive emails

The judge said: “There is a misogynist flavour to a significant proportion of the material in the emails.

“It had a substantial effect on the everyday life of the victim. It was not just personal intimidation, but an attempt to attack her professional life and standing.

“You have a long record of intimidating people and being violent to people.

“A number of your offences show similar features of harassment. The sanction of a suspended sentence seems not to have worked.”

The judge ordered that Hockaday be put under a restraining order not to contact the solicitor and not to attend the street where she works when he is released from prison.