A 45-year-old Ostend man has appeared before the Bruges criminal court accused of harassment. Despite two previous convictions, Kurt M. has continued to harass his ex-wife, and the public prosecutor has requested a three-year prison sentence.
The defendant married a woman from Anzegem in 2018, but they divorced in 2023. Since then, he has persistently stalked his ex-partner.
In June 2024, he received a one-year suspended prison sentence in Kortrijk, subject to conditions. He received an additional one-year prison sentence in September 2024 for identical offenses against the same victim. The civil party and the public prosecutor noted that Kurt M. continued to harass his former wife even after this conviction.
From December 2, 2024, to March 23, 2025, the victim was once again bombarded with threatening messages and Christmas cards. “You destroyed me, now it’s my turn,” one message read.
The defendant also wrote that there would be bloodshed and that he would kill the victim.
“That woman has been living in a climate of fear for years,” stated prosecutor Grace Van Beselaere.
According to the public prosecutor, a custodial sentence is the only way to stop the man's behaviour.
The civil party claimed €2,000 in damages for moral damage. “My client just wants it to stop,” argued the victim’s lawyer. The defence argued that M. had turned himself in because he realised things couldn’t continue like this.
According to prosecutor Olivier Simaey, who is calling for a suspended sentence, his client’s alcohol problem is the root cause of his behaviour.
“I want to express my regret; otherwise, I wouldn’t be worthy of being human,” Kurt M. said in his final statement. The defendant also stated that his parents never taught him how to deal with emotions. “I’m not aggressive by nature, but I just have trouble expressing my emotions,” he said. The judge will deliver his verdict on July 31.
