‘He stalked me, but I was the one arrested’
He stalked me, but I was the one arrested
In December 2020, Jodie Morrow found herself in a police vehicle, tearfully clutching her belongings as she prepared for a journey to custody. The arrest came after false accusations that she had been harassing Ezra Garfield, the man she had briefly dated. For three months prior, the Ulster University student had raised concerns about Garfield, but the police had yet to act. Now, the roles had reversed.
Jodie had met Garfield, then known as Riagain Grainger, in March 2020 while studying in Belfast. Their initial connection was described as “very normal,” with Garfield appearing charming and approachable. “He never had a single red flag at all,” she said, recalling the early days of their relationship. But as the months passed, Jodie sensed a shift in his behavior.
“He just completely switched” when she decided to end things, she explained. “I was planning to let him down gently, but the messages turned aggressive, and the calls never stopped.”
Garfield’s harassment escalated rapidly. Jodie reported the incidents to the police in September 2020, detailing messages and calls from two numbers she believed belonged to his parents. She was even sent a photo of him with her name etched into his chest, a detail she found deeply unsettling. “It was all a blur,” she said. “I kept thinking if I keep going to the police, it’ll stop.”
Despite her efforts, the situation worsened. Garfield, using an app to generate false calls, continued his campaign. In December 2020, he turned the tables, accusing Jodie of harassment. She was searched, fingerprinted, and placed in a cell, all while her phone was seized for three months. It wasn’t until evidence emerged that she realized Garfield had orchestrated the entire ordeal.
Justice delayed
Garfield’s case took a dramatic turn in February 2022 when he was jailed for two-and-a-half years after admitting to stalking and perverting the course of justice. The court heard of his behavior toward a 21-year-old woman in 2019, following their studies in Manchester. Jodie, however, had to wait until this year to see her own case resolved. Recently, she stood in court as Garfield received a 19-month sentence, with additional supervision upon release.
“The harassment was distressing, but it was the police process that made my ordeal worse,” Jodie said. “I was just so frustrated… I can’t believe they’re taking his word on this.”
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) acknowledged “shortcomings” in how Jodie’s case was managed. Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson noted the investigation was “complex” and that officers had “acted in good faith” based on available information. “Garfield intended to portray himself as a victim,” Henderson explained, “to make the real victim look like an offender.”
Jodie has since agreed to collaborate with the PSNI to enhance their systems and practices. She also criticized Ulster University for its handling of her complaint, stating that Garfield had only faced a “slap on the wrist” and a campus ban during the period they knew each other.