He sat in the dock of a courtroom at Minshull Street Crown Court, glaring at the TV screen.
Speaking over videolink through her phone, his victim told of the devastating impact his behaviour had upon her life. “My brain feels numb,” she said.
She had been in a long term on/off relationship with Brian Ogden. Throughout their time together he had a number of different relationships.
He admitted he ‘wasn’t a good partner’. It was an understatement.
At his sentencing hearing, the court heard that Brian Ogden had an 11-year history of domestic violence on his criminal record.
He blamed his drinking problems, and he blamed others for his behaviour. In reality, this couldn’t have been further from the truth.
Brian Ogden
(Image: Facebook)
Now he is beginning a 38-month term behind bars for domestic violence offences against the woman on the screen, and another woman he harassed simultaneously.
Prosecutors detailed how Ogden, of Oldham repeatedly messaged his ex after their relationship broke down. He was banned from doing so in the terms of a non-molestation order.
He threatened to kill her, repeatedly turned up at her house, stole her Ring doorbell and threw a bin at her window.
At the same time, he was sending abusive messages to another former partner, claiming she was a ‘grass’, accusing her family members of being paedophiles and stating he had ‘half of Oldham’ looking for her.
Both women were left terrified, and later told the court of their understandable fear. Prosecutor Lisa Boocock detailed the frightening past of the man in the dock.
The court heard he had a history of similar offences dating back as far as 2013.
Brian Ogden pleaded guilty to stalking, putting a person in fear of violence and criminal damage
(Image: Facebook)
It began with putting a person in fear of violence, and he later received a community order for using violence to secure entry.
There were breaches of restraining orders in 2020, offences of criminal damage, and stalking in 2021 for which he was handed his first term of imprisonment. He received a further 14 weeks in jail for threats to kill. Then in 2023 he was imprisoned for 12 months for breaching a non-molestation order and a restraining order.
“You have a bad criminal record for offences of this sort,” a judge told him.
The court heard victim impact statements from both women.
The first was written and read on behalf of the woman on the screen. She said: “This is never ending and I’m having to move all the time. Because of this I’m having to start again. He is terrorising me personally, and I see no end.”
She was then invited to read a further statement. She said: “I find it very difficult to understand the process of how Brian affected my life.
Brian Ogden was jailed for 38 months
(Image: Facebook)
“It’s hard to describe but my brain feels numb, I try to remember things that happened and then I feel an uncomfortable pressure in the back of my head.
“I feel physical and emotional pain when I talk about these things. The system has made me have panic attacks. I felt disappointment on a daily basis.
“What I don’t understand is why somebody who says they love me can do this to me?
“I thought he understood me and wanted to protect me. I suffer from extreme abandonment issues and I fall in love very easily and trust too much. I still feel bad about him being in custody, like I have done something wrong. But the fact he pleaded guilty helps me understand I’m not to blame.
“I am unable to discuss it with family and friends, even in this statement I’m not fully able to say how much this has impacted me mentally. It is impossible to describe how overwhelming it is to be with Brian. I felt empathy, heartbroken, suicidal and worthless and in love at the same time.
“I don’t know if I will ever trust or forgive him.”
Addressing Ogden, she added: “Brian, I hope you are listening to everything I have said about how the things you have done have affected me and the children.”
Speaking to the woman, judge Jonathan Seely said: “It’s really important that you do not feel bad about making that complaint – you exhibited discernible courage.”
(Image: MEN Media)
The second victim, who was not in attendance, said in a statement: “My children have had to have counselling due to his behaviour. We have had to move house.
“He tries to get to me by my family members, I think he will follow through with that.
“I’m scared of what he will do to me – I’m on eggshells and I can’t sleep knowing he is out. He does not care.”
Ogden claimed, through his barrister, that he had issues with alcohol, a troubled childhood and said ‘conduct in relationships had been poor’.
But judge Jonathan Seely said: “You seem to care absolutely not a jot. You seem to harass and make the lives of these women miserable. The court will not tolerate such behaviour.
“These are two separate human beings.
“You say you have a drinking problem, I suspect you have been saying that for a long time. You say: ‘It’s not me, it’s someone else’. You’re wrong, it is you, it is very much you. There is no excuse whatsoever, it is your problem. You do these things and you are going to be punished for doing these things.”