A woman who made 800 silent and threatening calls to an ex-partner and his wife has walked free from court.

Sarah Martin, formerly known as Sarah Ross, allegedly called the couple ‘baby killers’ after they had a miscarriage during the month-long campaign, magistrates were told.

Martin, 25, of Hobson Street, Macclesfield, admitted harassment without violence at Macclesfield Magistrates’ Court at a hearing on March 27.

Today she was sentenced to six weeks custody suspended for 12 months and ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work.

Speaking after the hearing the victims slammed the sentence as 'an insult'.

The court heard that the incident arose from a complicated love triangle involving Martin, her ex-partner and her best friend.

Simon Pover, prosecuting, alleged that after the complainant lost their baby, Martin called them ‘baby killers’ on three occasions.

He said: "The harassment took place between January 7 and February 3.

"The loss of that baby was referred to during the course of the harassment. She also called the victim a slag and was verbally abusive. Some of the abuse took place in front of the victim's two children which caused distress and alarm. There was up to 800 silent and threatening phone calls. Martin even made some approaches to the complainant's employer.

Mr Pover said police served Martin with a harassment notice but she continued to torment the couple via Facebook and text message calling the complainant 'slag' and saying 'I wish you would die'.

He said: "At a previous hearing she admitted harassment by making the calls, the majority of which were silent, and sending Facebook messages, but denied calling them baby killers. A basis of plea was accepted."

Defending Martin, Anthony Derbyshire told the court the offence had stemmed from a complicated situation.Mr Derbyshire said: "The relationship between the victim and the defendant ended in February 2013. In April she learnt he had become involved with her best friend who he married. In November the relationship between Martin and the complainant resumed until December when his wife had a miscarriage. The defendant also claims she lost a baby in the January.

"It was a complicated situation of heightened emotions with the relationship ebbing and flowing."

Mr Derbyshire told the hearing that Martin has bi-polar disorder and believes her daughter's Asperger's syndrome is linked to medication taken during that pregnancy.

He said: "She temporarily stopped taking her medication when she found out she was pregnant by the complainant. It affected her behaviour. She regrets her actions and is in a much better place now."

Sentencing, Denise Rankin, chair of the bench, said: "The court takes harassment very seriously. This was persistent over a short period of time. It was intentional and caused distress to the complainants and their wider family. We are only suspending the six weeks custody because you are the sole carer of your daughter."

Reacting to the sentence the complainants said: "A suspended sentence is an insult. It feels like she got away with it."

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