French man jailed for phoning and texting his ex-girlfriend 21,807 times
Ever been tempted to contact an ex? A man in France gave in to that desire and proceeded to call and text his ex-girlfriend a whopping 21,807 times over a 10-month period.
Not because he missed her, mind you. But because she didn't say thank you.
On Thursday, the 33-year-old man was jailed for 10 months and fined €1,000 (S$1,600) for harassing the woman, a 32-year-old teacher.
He will also have to undergo psychiatric treatment and is barred from all contact with the woman.
Would not stop calling
The man, who cannot be named under French law, had been hospitalised in the past for depression, and struggled to cope when his girlfriend broke off their relationship in 2011.
He started calling her, demanding that she thank him for fixing up their apartment.
He told the court in Lyon: "At the time, my logic was that until she returns the money... or at least says thank you, I would not stop the calls."
'It was stupid'
The calls kept coming – averaging more than 73 per day.
The victim's lawyer, Manuella Spee, said: "She tried to block her line, but he phoned her parents instead and her workplace."
It was only when she finally said thank you, during a meeting organised by a mediator, that the harassment stopped. He has not contacted her since.
The man told the court: "I tell myself, with hindsight, that it was stupid."
He said he wanted to return to school to train to be a legal assistant, and added that he had a "passion for writing".
Source: AFP
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