Jail sentence for suicidal stalker

One breach occurred on the day of the fire.

Nicholas Bellhouse, 31, of Channel Way, Fairlight, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment at North London’s Wood Green Crown Court for continuing to text his ex-partner and entering an exclusion zone.

However, he will be released immediately having already spent four months in custody charged with arson, with intent to endanger life.

The charge was dropped on the day he was due to stand trial on the basis that there was insufficient evidence.

Sentencing Bellhouse for the breaches Judge Jeff Blackett told Bellhouse : “When the court tells you to do something you do it. You have been contemptuous towards the courts.

“If you do get in touch with your former partner again you will end up in prison again.”

Bellhouse pleaded guilty to breaching an indefinite restraining order on 30 June and 1 July.

Haringey Magistrates’ Court imposed it on May 25 after the defendant was convicted of harassing his ex-girlfriend Rachel Kelly, 28. He was also sentenced to four weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for twelve months.

Prosecutor Travers Sinanan told the court Bellhouse shared a flat in Muswell Hill, North London with Miss Kelly, but after they split he returned to his native East Sussex.

Soon afterwards she spotted him stalking her at busy commuter times at her local railway station and made a formal harassment complaint to police.

Bellhouse was prohibited by the magistrates from contacting Miss Kelly and banned from entering the N10 postcode.

Mr Sinanan said: “On June 30 between 8pm and 10pm Miss Kelly received text messages from Bellhouse in which he said he was taking heroin and drinking whiskey and wanted to meet her.”

“In the early hours of July 1 a blaze engulfed Miss Kelly’s second-floor flat while it was occupied by friends Eve Pearson, 28, and Oliver Machin, 28.

“The fire was started in the bedroom of Miss Kelly and engulfed the apartment,” explained Mr. Sinanan. “They were overcome with fumes, but Miss Pearson was nudged by her pet dog and woke up.

“She suffered cuts to her hands and wrists while attempting to escape through a window.”

Firemen rushed to the blaze and entered the flat wearing breathing apparatus, rescuing the soot-covered woman and her friend who was sleeping on the sofa.

Sadly Miss Pearson’s pet dog did not survive the fire.

Miss Kelly was not in the flat at the time, but fifteen minutes before the fire she received more texts from Bellhouse, who police proved was in the area.

“The messages were suicidal in nature and Bellhouse was again insisting he wanted to see her and claimed he intended to take his own life,” added the prosecutor.

CCTV proved the defendant was in the N10 exclusion zone when he was filmed making a cash point withdrawal.

Bellhouse was arrested a week later at St. Thomas’s Hospital, Lambeth, where he was being treated for slashing his wrists and charged with arson.

Mr. Sinanan recommended the Crown Prosecution Service drop the charge due to insufficient evidence and the fire brigade’s opinion the blaze was non-suspicious.

Electrical cables were a potential cause, however Miss Kelly remains convinced Bellhouse deliberately started the fire, the court was told.

The defendant was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment on each count to run consecutively and the restraining order remains in place.