Scorned mum got ex arrested FIVE times after sending herself ‘wicked’ messages from fake Facebook account in his name

A SCORNED mum got her ex arrested five times after sending herself “wicked” messages from a Facebook account in his name. Melissa Dinsdale’s former partner spent a total of 72 hours in police cells for offences he had not committed. Newcastle Crown Court heard Dinsdale, 29, had set up a Facebook account in the man’s name and sent herself menacing messages from the fake profile. She claimed her ex contacted her, and on one occasion her pal, over Facebook Messenger, calling her a “stupid b****”, threatening her and calling her a “grass”. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Dinsdale’s accusations were taken seriously because she had a non-molestation order in place in relation to the man, who had agreed to it thinking their “toxic” relationship was over for good. The court heard the “trigger” for her shocking campaign was when the victim announced on social media that his new partner was pregnant. The truth was only exposed after the man reported Dinsdale to the police for harassment that her phone was seized, examined and the fake Facebook account was discovered. As a result of the malicious accusations, the victim now wrongly features on Clare’s Law – meaning any future partners will be warned off him. He had mobile phones, worth an estimated £1,000, seized from him during the investigations. Dinsdale, who is from Sunderland, admitted seven charges of doing an act tending and intended to pervert the course of justice between August and December 2023. Most read in The Sun Prosecutor Rachel Butt told the court the couple had been in a relationship since 2016 and had two children together. Miss Butt said when Dinsdale applied for the non-molestation order the man did not object and told the court: “He believed it would mean he wouldn’t have to see her again or have any contact with her”. The court heard the man believes the fake allegations that followed were a “direct result” of his new partner’s pregnancy announcement on social media. As a result of her actions, the man was repeatedly arrested, held in police cells for hours at a time and had multiple mobile phones taken from him. It was only when he made a counter allegation against her for harassment and her phone was examined by the police that the truth was exposed. Miss Butt said: “The defendant had created a Facebook profile in (the man’s) name in order to send herself messages purporting to come from him and then report to the police he was in breach of the non-molestation order.” The court heard Dinsdale had tried to delete the fake account but it was traced through emails and her IP address. In a victim statement, the man said he felt “harassed and let down” with how long it was allowed to go on for and added: “I spent hours and hours in police custody when I was actually the innocent party.” He said he was left in fear of the police coming to arrest him again for nothing and added: “She used the system to manipulate things. “I am registered on Clare’s Law for things I was never found guilty of.” Dinsdale’s ex said his mental health suffered because of his ordeal and he has tried unsuccessfully to get his details removed from Clare’s Law. Recorder Nick Tucker sentenced Dinsdale to two-and-a-half years suspended for two years with rehabilitation, programme and mental health treatment requirements. She was ordered to pay £300 compensation. The recorder said the “revenge seeking” offences were “wicked” and made out of “spite”. They added: “Having been arrested so many times he must have simply been waiting for the next time the police came knocking and he would have to spend at least part of a day sitting in a sparse police cell on suspicion of serious offences.” Sophie Allinson-Howells, defending, said the relationship was “toxic” and Dinsdale, who has health problems, has a troubled background and little support. Miss Allinson-Howells said Dinsdale felt she had been “wronged” in the relationship and felt “significantly let down” but is remorseful, has children to look after and added: “Ultimately, she begs the court for mercy”.