Stalker who slid blood-strained note under victim's door walks free from court

An obsessed stalker who put a blood-strained note under his victim's door has walked free from court.

On seeing the letter, Mark Kavanagh's victim went to check on him, but instead found him holding a knife, having caused injuries to himself.

A court has heard how he later told the victim. "I did it to test you".

Kavanagh also tried to get his victim arrested by making a false report to police. When he himself was arrested, he pulled a knife on police officers and tried to bite one of them.

Kavanagh of Church View, Wrexham appeared at Chester Crown Court where he was sentenced to 18 months suspended for 18 months for stalking, assaulting an emergency worker and perverting the course of justice. He was also issued with a Restraining Order prohibiting him from contacting the victim.

The court was told how in September 2023, the victim moved into a house share in Chester where Kavanagh rented a room.

By April 2024 Kavanagh developed a belief that he had been in a relationship with the victim, and became obsessed with her, where she was, who she was with, and making threats to assault any men she brought to the address.

Kavanagh’s behaviour escalated as time went on leading to a note with blood smeared on it being posted under the victim’s door.

The court also heard how on other occasions Kavanagh would bombard the victim with messages stating he intended to harm himself as he believed the victim had returned home with a man.

Kavanagh was arrested May 8, 2024. Upon being informed of the reason for his arrest, Kavanagh grabbed a knife prompting officers to restrain and disarm him, during which time he tried to bite an officer.

Kavanagh was interviewed by specialist Stalking investigators from Cheshire’s Harm Reduction Unit