Woman stalked internet lover with large knife

Lisa Velleman developed a fatal attraction for her lost love and stalked him by repeatedly going to his apartment in Lytham and banging on the windows pleading to be let in.

The last time Velleman visited the 36-year-old Sergeant Major’s home she was armed with a large carving knife, a court was told.

Velleman, a 44-year-old mother, of Clifton Drive North, St Annes, pleaded guilty to harassment and possessing a knife in public.

She was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months, ordered to do 100 hours unpaid work for the community, put on one year’s supervision and pay £85 costs with £80 victims’ surcharge.

Blackpool magistrates also put her on a 12-month restraining order which bans her from contacting the sergeant major or entering his home road. Pam Smith, prosecuting, told the court the victim said he met Velleman about 12 months ago after they chatted online. She visited his home for drinks on three occasions and they were intimate on two of those occasions.

She started getting jealous of his ex and kept texting and calling him. He described her as “full on”, so he said he would not see her again and asked her to leave him alone.

He was deployed overseas and when he returned in September last year Velleman came to his apartment at Kings Road, Lytham, and banged on the windows.

The prosecutor said: “He told her he was not interested and to go away.

“She left a four-page letter on his car windscreen, which was insulting.”

On September 13 at 12.30am Velleman again appeared at his flat shouting at the top of her voice and banging on the windows.

Police were called and an officer saw she had a carving knife with her.

In a victim’s statement the Sergeant Major said: “I’m scared to leave the windows open at night in case she arrives. I often have my children at the weekend and I don’t want her anywhere near them or me.”

Allan Cobain, defending, said Velleman’s case cried out for help rather than punishment. She was a lonely woman. A previous relationship had ended in tragic circumstances, her grown-up daughter had fled the nest and she had lost her job.

Mr Cobain added: “She met this man, was swept off her feet and literally fell head over heels in love.”

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