FORMER Premier League legend Colin Hendry has avoided jail after he hounded his ex with unwanted calls and gifts.
The 59-year-old, who played for Blackburn Rovers, is understood to have waged a campaign against his ex after their relationship broke down.
Andy Kelvin / KelvinmediaColin Hendry has avoided prison for harassing his ex[/caption]
GettyHendry won the Premier League with Blackburn in 1995[/caption]
Hendry wore a navy checked suit and dark sunglasses as he arrived at the court in Preston earlier today.
He bombarded the woman with calls, emails, and even LinkedIn requests when she ended their relationship.
The dad-of-three turned up at her house with handwritten letters, gifts, and flowers despite her requesting him not to contact her.
After being warned by the police to stop, Hendry carried on the six-week campaign.
He pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to harassment without violence but avoided jail at Preston Magistrates Court today.
He was instead handed a 12 month community order and restraining order.
In a victim impact statement, the victim said she felt depressed and anxious because of his behaviour.
She added: “When we first met in July 2017, I described myself as a positive person with a strong network of friends, steady employment, and being of generally good health.
“Through the course of our relationship, he eroded these positive aspects of my life, distancing me from the quality of life I had envisioned at this stage of my life prompting me to constantly check over my shoulder if I was out, and crawl in my own home so I would not give any indication that I was left home alone.”
Hendry harassed his ex for over six weeks after their relationship ended, sending her messages from multiple different email accounts, utilising No Caller ID to call her after she blocked his number.
When his calls went unanswered, he turned to other means including dozens of emails and messaging her on LinkedIn.
JPs heard that between May 29 and July 7, 2024, Hendry sent around 20 emails to her containing links to websites on “why a man won’t leave a woman” and “even though they don’t want you, they will stay”.
In other emails, Hendry wrote “I love you” and asked: “why are you being like this?”
Lancashire police contacted Hendry to warn him that his behaviour was unwanted but he continued to contact the victim.
The couple met through a friend in July 2017 and were in an on and off relationship for three years.
Cara Greaves, prosecuting, said: “They started dating and things started to change very quickly in the space of three weeks, where she states that Mr Hendry became more volatile and his demeanour changed as his intense drinking continued.”
The pair split in September 2019, but they later rekindled their relationship on a “platonic basis”.
Ms Greaves said Hendry used his ex’s German Shepherd dog, Rocky, being ill “as leverage to restore the broken relationship” and he began contacting her again.
She told the court: “She asked Mr Hendry on numerous occasions to leave her alone and he ignored all pleas that she made to him.
“She says that she truly believes that he cannot accept the relationship is over and this unwanted contact is making her feel anxious and on edge.
“She says that she’s suffering undue anxiety from his behaviour, and she wishes it to stop.”
Speaking to The Sun after the hearing, Hendry claimed the ordeal had only been about a pet dog which he had shared with his ex.
He said: “It was about Rocky the German Shepherd, who I had been with for five years and was very fond of. He was part of the family.
“I received a missed call from her, and I thought it might have been bad news that I didn’t want to hear.”
He added: “Not everything that the court heard was accurate.”
Ten years ago, Hendry got a community order for harassing another ex girlfriend.
Former Blackburn star Hendry was in defence when they won the 1995 Premier League title.
In July 2009, Hendry was hit with tragedy when wife Denise died aged just 43 following a botched liposuction operation seven years earlier.
Denise, who shared four children with the footballer, was killed when bacteria spread from her stomach to her brain causing meningitis.
Hendry appeared 234 times for Blackburn before leaving for Rangers in 1998.
There he made just seven appearances but became a treble-winner when the club lifted the league, Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup in 1998/98.
The former defender then returned to the Premier League with Coventry before moving to Bolton.
A loan spell with Blackpool would follow before he retired in 2003.
The Scot is also embedded into England‘s football history as the unfortunate player Paul Gascoigne flicked the ball over for his famous goal at Euro 96.
Natasha Clark, Senior Crown Prosecutor for Crown Prosecution Service North West, said: “Colin Hendry harassed a former partner for over six weeks after their relationship ended after she stopped returning his calls.
“He ignored her wishes and breached boundaries she put in place, using multiple different platforms to contact her.
“Hendry’s behaviour was intimidating and persistent, causing the victim immense distress, but despite this he initially refused to accept it was harassment.
“This outcome is a clear indication that the CPS will not hesitate to prosecute anyone guilty of harassment whether this is in person or online.”
Andy Kelvin / KelvinmediaHendry leaves court after avoiding a prison sentence[/caption]
GettyThe former footballer pleaded guilty to harassment[/caption]
Hendry’s wife Denise passed away in 2009Men Syndication Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
