Telford drug dealer in violence against ex-lovers is jailed
A Telford man involved in violence against ex-girlfriends, harassment, breach of restraining orders and dealing in Class A drugs, has been jailed for a total of five years.
Four women fell victim to Robert Hacking's controlling and violent behaviour, even when he was on bail or subject to restraining orders, a court was told.
Weapons – including a knife, Samurai sword and a heated iron – were used to threaten victims over a six-year period.
Hacking, of Willowfield, Woodside, was also caught selling heroin and cocaine to an undercover police officer and had been dealing Class A drugs in Telford, Birmingham Crown Court was told.
Judge Simon Drew said Hacking had an unpleasant history of violence against women with whom he had had relationships. He told Hacking that he was "controlling" and it was these sort of incidents that sometimes end in tragic consequences.
"These women deserved respect and care even after the relationships ended," he said.
The court heard that Hacking was involved in harassment of a woman after a brief relationship had ended.
Mr Michael Duck, prosecuting, said that over a 10-day period the defendant was in constant contact by phone and had damaged her door, forcing her to bolt herself in.
Later he threw a cigarette lighter at her, cutting her above her eye.
The court heard Hacking was in breach of a nine-month suspended sentence imposed last year for an attack on another ex-girlfriend. He had cut off her hair, threatened to kill her when armed with a knife and a sword, and had flushed her head in the toilet.
In another incident Hacking spat in the face of a woman, plugged in an iron and threatened to burn her.
Mr Duck said in April and May last year Hacking, along with a man named Craig Lynas, had been dealing Class A drugs in Telford and was caught selling heroin and cocaine to an undercover police officer.
Hacking who had admitted all the offences, was given three-and-half years for the drug offences. A further nine months was imposed for the harassment charge and the nine-month suspended sentence was activated.
The court heard that Hacking had a chaotic lifestyle and had shown some remorse but knew he had "to grow up".
