Bristol PC harassed officer ex-girlfriend after split
A Bristol policeman harassed his ex-partner - also a PC - for a year after their relationship ended.
He dug up her garden, claimed he had given her sexually transmitted diseases and threatened to ruin her life after they split when she discovered he had been having an affair.
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Bristol PC John-Paul Mizen harassed officer ex-girlfriend after split
John-Paul Mizen, a serving police constable based at Trinity Road police station, ran from court following his harassment hearing today.
The 27-year-old, of Frome Valley Road, Stapleton, will now have to carry out 120 hours community service over the next 12 months.
He could also face an internal disciplinary hearing at police HQ in Portishead.
His former girlfriend PC Michelle Lacey, who is the mother of his twin daughters, is a serving police officer at Southmead police station.
She is now with boyfriend Simon Overbury, North Somerset Magistrates' Court was told.
Magistrates placed a restraining order on Mizen, preventing him from contacting Ms Lacey for the next year.
The pair started a relationship in 2004 after meeting at work. Their twins were born June 2007.
Prosecuting, Michael Hartnell said that in mid-November that year Ms Lacey discovered from reading e-mails and messages on social networking website Facebook that Mizen had been seeing someone else.
The relationship ended and Mizen moved out the family home in Worle Moor Road, Weston Village, to live with his parents in Bristol.
Mr Hartnell said that on March 24 last year Mizen had the twins and was due to return them but shortly before 10pm that night he telephoned Ms Lacey.
During the call he said: "You're not taking the kids back until you sell the house. You've taken everything away from me. I'm going to ruin your life.
"Get all your stuff out of the house, I'm moving in today.
"You're nothing but a scrubber, you're a bad mother."
In another call, the court was told he said: "I'm going to ruin your life in every single way. Leave the house or I will get you. I'm moving in.
"You are a fat bitch with a fat stomach.
"I was sleeping with all those women. Have you had a test? You need one, I've passed STD's to you.
"I can make allegations if I want to. I'm gonna ruin your family."
In April last year, he blocked PC Lacey's vehicle in at a car park and told her he would only move it if she phoned her boyfriend and told him to never come around to the house again.
Afterwards, said Mr Hartnell, he drove to the Worle Moor Road home and dug up the grass in the garden. He then threw slate around the rear garden.
Mizen denied blocking in the car or going to the garden.
Defending, Nicholas Clough said things started to go wrong between the couple following the birth of their daughters.
He claimed in court that Ms Lacey suffered from post natal depression and later refused to let Mizen see his children.
He also told the court Ms Lacey wanted the house signed into her name but Mizen continued to make mortgage payments.
The house was later handed back to the building society and has now been sold.
Mr Clough said: "There was behaviour which he accepts was unacceptable and he wishes to apologise to everyone concerned.
"He had been a serving police officer for nine years at the time of the break up with Miss Lacey and was on a promotional path, which had since been reversed."
The court was also told Mizen returned to work recently working four hour shifts and has concerns about his job prospects.
Catherine Foster, an Avon and Somerset police spokesman, said: "Now that the court proceedings are concluded, consideration will be given to what, if any, internal disciplinary measures may be appropriate.
"While that consideration is taking place, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage."
Mizen has a Facebook page on which he states is a member of Fathers 4 Justice.
He refused to make a comment before running from the court.
26 Comments
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by In the know, Plymouth
Wednesday, June 03 2009, 5:51PM
“How is someone suppost to see their children when the law is firmly on the mothers side?
1, she gets legal aid, he has to pay huge sums of money. which he has been doing!
2, she has refused to let him keep contact with the children (we know this is a fact!)
3, She never paid the mortgage despite him paying the money plus maintenace on top.
4, She was having a relationship with new bloke months before the ending of relationship
5, SHe is now pregnant with another child.
6, post natal depression was diagnosed - FACT
7, Her family threatend him over and over again,
8, SHe has done this before - She now has 4 children of which none of them see theor fathers as she has reported them to the police in the past and moved away with the children and suddenly its all happened again.
Will this be child number 5 who lives without a father - I expect so infact i'd place a bet on it!
There is two sides to every story and we only have one reported, why is this, simply because he couldn't afford to defend himself in court - there is no british justice!”
by james, bristol
Sunday, April 26 2009, 10:13PM
“im sorry but i have made a comment earlier on how i feel about the circustances referencnee to the situation of this youge lady and her children being made homeless due to this guy whom we hold in esteem as a police officer if this is what we are to expect is it no wonder people think twice about talking to them on a friendly bases,perhaps we should ignore on what friends say and react on what we know this girl and her children were put out of there home by this guy”
by james, bristol
Sunday, April 26 2009, 7:37PM
“i dont understand where his father for justice comes into this guys vocablary it actually means to take care of your family not throw them out,these people who say they know him personally do they if so maybe they should give him some advice.do you believe a father would hold his children by force in a car park late at night in the middle of winter for an hour ,also he is supossed to be someone we can depend on being in the police force ,if this is the respet they give to us why should they expect any differenet from the public,these people who know him personnally should also be seeking help.”
by jim, bristol
Sunday, April 26 2009, 7:19PM
“im sorry but anyone that can feel sorry for a gutless person who would force his partner to sell there home and put his twins on the street,also having a motor cycle and jet ski in the garage and a car outside does he need the money .probably seeing he spends most of his time chatting other women ,what shokes me is that he is supposed to be a pillar of our society god help us”
by thejoker, BRISTOL
Sunday, April 26 2009, 11:57AM
“What a load of toss SM!! He could of fought to see his kids or tried to behave himself!! So he could see them. the blokes only got himself to blame and has no role in the Police force. It seems like all involved have had a lucky escape. I wish them well as they must have been put through hell.”
by sm, bristol
Sunday, April 26 2009, 10:22AM
“Without wanting to prolong this discussion, I must reply to the last correspondent that the Grandparents and aunties did send birthday cards and were very upset to receive an abrupt text telling them not to bother! John's recent absence from work was due to an operation and was nothing to do with this situation. Please let this be an end to this correspondence as it prolongs a very difficult situation for ALL concerned.”
by on your side, Bristol
Saturday, April 25 2009, 9:59AM
“I wonder what spotless lives everyone must be living to be able to cast such judgement on someone they have never met.
I would like to see a newspaper twist one of their painful experiences and then let them thow stones. I am sure the one sided account would be very different to the one you would have described.
This man has been denied access to his children, how can anyone be expected to react rationally in that situation? Surely he would be a less of a man if he had no concern for them? And has everyone forgotten it was his property also?
At least one day he will be able to stand before them and say he tried.
He has been a policeman for many years, I wonder if he has ever helped out you, a friend or a family member?
I would like to see anybody turn away a helping hand when they needed it most.
I know John-Paul and he does not deserve these harsh words.
I would like people to think of the most important people in their lives, and then how they would feel if that person would feel if they were taken away from them. Would you not fight for them?”
by LC. Bristol, bristol
Saturday, April 25 2009, 9:33AM
“I also know this family personally and I can honestly say that the story in no way reflects the whole truth. The mother is a great mum to her children and now with her new partner who she met AFTER the breakup provide a loving home for the children without ANY financial support from the father whatsoever and who has never been denied access to his children.That was his choice. Not anyone elses but his. The mother has never had post natel depression. He also would not pay his half of the morgate saying that he would see her out on the street. Where was the care and support for his young family? Yes. There are two sides to every story and he deserves all he gets. Unfortunately this happens to may people but as they are both serving police officers the press deems to sensationalize as usual.”
by michael, knowle
Saturday, April 25 2009, 9:11AM
“how long will this animal be suspended on full pay”
by John, Gloucestershire
Friday, April 24 2009, 9:54PM
“So he said a few nasty comments after losing his wife but most of all daily access to his kids. Hardly interesting.
Any other job this would be nowhere near the newspapers but because he is Police its the headline. Hundreds of Police Officers do extraordinary things before this kind of story comes along but ony one article makes it into the papers and its ones like this!”