A spurned fiance posed as a journalist to spread false rumours about his ex in a bid to get an engagement ring back, a court heard today.
Jake Moriani, 32, was found guilty of harassment by making false allegations against Elizabeth Reeves to her mother, her employer and the police.
He denied harassment but was found guilty after a trial in September. He’s now been banned from contacting her for five years after a hearing at Brighton Magistrates Court.
Miss Reeves read out her victim impact statement to the court in person – ending by telling Moriani she forgave him.
Of the allegations, she said: “It was so inconceivable and beyond the realms of reality, it was almost laughable. You appropriated the language of sexual assault.
“I was genuinely worried about you. I considered making contact with your family but worried any action I took would escalate your behaviour.
“You began a campaign against me, a public campaign which involved my employer, the police and my mum.
“I know you wanted to ruin my life, starting with getting me fired.
“Your behaviour reflects upon you and nobody else.
“I was deeply fearful about how you might escalate and I was scared for my physical safety. I reluctantly relocated, I stopped going into the office and cancelled plans with my friends. I took self defence classes.
“Every time the phone rang, I got an email or an event came into my calendar, I felt dread.”
Prosecuting, Maria Goptareva said the pair’s 12-year relationship had come to an end in June last year, and the harassment began the following month after Moriani, of London Road, Brighton, emailed Miss Reeves to say he was coming to London to get the ring back.
He emailed both her work and her personal email address, and rang her three times.
The following day, the threats to report her to the police began. Over the next few days, he used multiple email addresses and fake names to email her, her mother and her employer.
Ms Goptareva said: “He was alleging Miss Reeves had committed a sexual assault against him and was demanding the engagement ring back.
“Her employer received an email from someone saying they were a journalist and referring to her using the same out of date job title Moriani had used in a previous email – suggesting the journalist was actually Jake Moriani.
“Moriani was arrested and gave a no comment interview.”
Defending, Charlotte Arundale said her client was of previous good character, and stressed the harassment only happened over a few days. She also said the bench had cited just two of the messages when finding him guilty at trial.
She said: “He was evidently going through a period of emotional turbulence. The offending could have been a trauma response. He is now in therapy three times a week.
“There is no formal diagnosis, but it is clear there was something awry at the time.”
She said Moriani, who is now married, had lost his job when convicted, as this meant he also lost his security clearance. He was now working for a charity and doing volunteer gardening.
District judge David Murray said: “This was out of character and I can treat it as a one off, but it’s offending of a very serious and grave nature.
“This was harassment of Miss Reeves, albeit for a short period of time, but it was intense and it escalated. You involved her mother and used subterfuge pretending to be a journalist when you contacted her employer.”
He praised Miss Reeves for her bravery, and acknowledged how the offending had affected her, while also saying he was taking into account Moriani’s work in therapy.
He gave Moriani a 12-month community order, and imposed a five-year restraining order preventing him from contacting Miss Reeves directly or indirectly, or going to anywhere he knew or reasonably believed she now lives.
He also ordered him to pay £650 court costs and a victim surcharge of £114.
