Scorned ex branded love rival ‘homewrecking w**** with saggy bits' in vile smear campaign that left mum living in fear
A SCORNED ex branded her love rival a "homewrecking w***e with saggy bits" in a vile smear campaign that left her victim living in fear.
Stephanie Hughes, 39, was bombarded with hateful messages on Facebook by Christina Corish after she began a relationship with the mum's ex-husband Richard.
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Despite splitting with her spouse three years earlier, Corish, 37, contacted Stephanie's friends to tell them: "She is sleeping with my husband".
She also reached out to parents at the school where Stephanie's children were pupils to brand the mum-of-four a "homewrecking w***e with saggy bits".
Stephanie, who runs a travel agency, initially ignored the sick abuse but was forced to step in when Corish targeted her business and accused her of being a "conwoman".
Corish pleaded guilty to harassment between August 2023 and February 2025 at Sefton Magistrates' Court but avoided jail.
She was instead handed a 12 month community order and was banned from contacting Stephanie for five years.
In a victim impact statement, Stephanie told the court: "The harassment and stalking I experienced had a devastating effect on every part of my life mentally, emotionally, physically and financially.
"This has been one of the most terrifying and damaging experiences and it has seeped into every part of my life. I felt exposed, scared and broken. he did not just target me. She contacted clients and colleagues and tried to ruin my reputation and humiliate me.
"I was so embarrassed and ashamed I stopped posting online. I built my travel business on social media but I could not log on as the fear and shame were overwhelming. She even sent messages to mothers at the school calling me a w***e, accusing me of having an affair. I felt sick.
"I did not want to leave the house let alone go to the school gates.
"I could not sleep. Every time a notification came up or the doorbell rang I would freeze. I was terrified of what she would do next. I developed PTSD."
The court was told Corish and Richard married in 2015 and had two children together before they split five years later.
In 2023, Richard moved on with Stephanie while they were joint directors at her company.
Corish initially contacted the victim on social media asking if she knew Richard before phoning her three times.
Stephanie responded asking why Corish wanted to know but was hit with a barrage of abuse.
She said: "When I met Richard he told me they had been separated for three years.
"At no point did I think he was in a relationship with anyone. But she called me a home wrecker and threatened to out me.
The court heard Corish contacted two of Stephanie's friends on New Year's Day 2024 claiming the mum had slept with her "husband".
Corish ramped up the abuse campaign when she posted on Stephanie's business page falsely claiming she was conning customers out of money.
Stephanie said: "The continued behaviour has caused me a lot of distress and I eventually reported the matter to the police.
"The latest incident meant she was not going to stop. I cannot take much more. It has caused a massive massive amount of stress and anxiety affecting my physical and mental health.
''The messages to me and friends were bad enough, she is now trying to affect my business. She also found out where I lived through Companies House which really increased my anxiety. I cannot relax at home."
Corish had a previous conviction for criminal damage from last year after smashing windows at the home of her ex-husband's mother.
She wept in the dock as she told the court: "I am not going to contact her. I have no interest in making any contact anymore. That was the last time."
As well as a community order, Corish was also ordered to complete 15 days of rehabilitation activity.
Sentencing her District Judge Paul Healey said: ''You embarked upon a course of harassment against Stephanie Hughes when she was totally blameless.
"She had nothing to do with you but she was worried about who you were, why you were contacting her, the abuse, the threats to her.
"You caused real issues for her business and family. This has got to stop now.''
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