Ex-England international left note to ex saying 'you'll know what real pain feels like'

Ex-England international left note to ex saying 'you'll know what real pain feels like' Michael Cooper, 37, stalked his ex-girlfriend and a man he believed she had started a new relationship with, leaving threatening notes on her car, including one warning that she 'will know what real pain feels like' An ex-England rugby league champion stalked his ex-girlfriend and left threatening notes on her car, including one warning: "You will know what real pain feels like." Michael Cooper, 37, played for Warrington Wolves in the Super League and then represented Australia's St George Illawarra Dragons. also winning 13 caps for England, before an injury forced him into early retirement in 2024. He stalked his former partner Imogen Walker and Benjamin Howarth, whom he believed she had started a new relationship with, for two months between October and December 2024, prosecutor Matthew Dixon told Liverpool Crown Court. In June, Cooper, of Stansfield Drive, Grappenhall, Warrington, admitted two counts of stalking involving fear of violence. On Friday (August 21), he was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 20 rehabilitation days. Cooper was also given two restraining orders banning him from contacting his victims for 10 years, the Liverpool Echo reports. Mr Dixon said Cooper's relationship with Ms Walker had come to an end earlier that year, and the pair had initially remained in communication before losing touch. Cooper then sent a Facebook message to Mr Howarth, which he "felt to be threatening". He blocked Cooper's account, but Cooper messaged him again from another account, saying that "he was giving him one chance and was offering a face-to-face chat". On December 9, he sent another Facebook message to Mr Howarth, which was deleted, and also sent a communication request on LinkedIn. That same day, he went to Ms Walker's house and left a note calling her a "cheat" and a "liar", adding: "By the way, he's cheating on you." He returned several days later on December 13, when he left "a number of notes" on Ms Walker's car, warning: "You will know what real pain feels like." He added: "Give this note to Ben. This is his last chance. He's lucky to be alive." The following day, he carved the word "sl**" into Ms Walker's car and damaged her tyres. She said the incident had left her "stressed" and struggling with unexpected costs, as she had to pay for repairs to her car and improve security at her home. Mr Howarth also said he had installed security measures at his home, including CCTV cameras and security lights. He said: "My sleep deteriorated significantly. I experienced nightmares about being attacked. If I wake up in the night I often get a sudden spark of anxiety. Overall the impact has been constant, exhausting and disruptive to all areas of my life. "I cut ties with Imogen despite knowing her for over 10 years, because I didn't want to be connected to her in any way. I set my Facebook to private, deleted my Instagram account and started another one, yet Michael was still able to find me and message me. "I also avoided pursuing a relationship with Imogen even though I was initially open to it because I had to protect myself first." Donal Maguire, defending Cooper, said: "The defendant has no previous convictions, no cautions, reprimands or warnings. He's a man not only without previous convictions, but a man of positive good character. "The offending arose in a period of acute personal crisis following his medical retirement from professional rugby." He said Cooper, who made his professional debut aged 17, suffered a "loss of identity as a sportsman" following his retirement, and began abusing alcohol and prescription medication. He said: "His pre-sentence report... demonstrates insight into the triggers for his behaviour, his genuine remorse, and, to an extent, his victim empathy. "He accepts that the complainants would have been fearful and there was no rationale behind his thinking at the time. He was very unwell in his head and 'wanted the complainants to feel as s**t as I did'. But now he realises that served no legitimate purpose whatsoever. "He has engaged with mental health support services. He reports substantially reducing alcohol use and prescription drug misuse. He's developed healthier coping strategies including avoiding social media, reading, walking, yoga and retreats. He has a supportive family network. "He's particularly close to his children. He has his boys, who he is devoted to, at least three times a week, and they are his life." The court heard that, since retiring from rugby, Cooper had started working in Trading Standards, and had most recently worked on the European leg of the BTS Arirang World Tour. Sentencing Cooper, Judge David Swinnerton said: "You are charged with stalking causing fear of violence over a two month period. For that period, your leaving notes, your carving of words into Ms Walker's car, your stalking [of] Mr Howarth via social media, and the threatening note too - that must have been terrifying." He said: "There has been no repeat of that behaviour. It would seem... you have come to your senses, realised the spiral that you were in. Alcohol and prescription drug abuse is a spiral that can destroy lives and families completely. Fortunately, it would seem you have realised that risk, and you have stopped it. "You have taken steps to deal with your mental health issues, you have taken steps to deal with your alcohol and drug misuse issues, and you are in a much better place now than you were. "The ongoing risk is if you allow your mental health to decline again. Then you will be a risk to others. But as long as you keep addressing your mental health issues and stay off heavy drinking and drugs, I don't think you are a risk."