The troll that targeted One Eyed Baz’s widow was jailed for a series of constant abuse

The widow of popular Coventry bouncer and Blues legend Barrington Patterson spoke of her grief after a stalker joked about her husband’s sudden death. Tracey Patterson released an emotional statement after her tormentor was jailed Monday (July 3).

BirminghamLive reported that Katie Bell’s tormentor – said to be a foreigner – had previously been convicted of harassing the famous couple for up to 60 messages a day. One of the grisly communications includes a picture of a casket with a message that reads: “To your grandson”.

However, despite receiving an 18-month suspended sentence for an offense involving a different victim in August 2022, the 27-year-old continued his campaign of abuse when Barrington died suddenly last year. A judge has now ordered him locked up.

Read more: Widow One-Eyed Baz wants her ‘amazing’ legacy to live on as the tributes unfold

Bell, originally from Sheffield, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for violating a restraining order and sending offensive messages, including commenting on the news of Barrington’s death with a laughing emoji.

Mrs Patterson shared the details in an emotional statement to Sheffield Crown Court where she recounted how she felt distressed by the constant abuse.

She said: “My fears that Katie’s behavior would escalate proved justified. Katie then boldly reactivated the account she had previously used to abuse herself. Every day the anxiety and stress caused by her behavior takes a toll on me mentally and physically.”

Known as One-Eyed Baz, former MMA fighter and kickboxer Barrington works tirelessly for the homeless and other charities with wife Tracey. He is also well known in Coventry not only for his mixed martial arts prowess, having fought for a kickboxing world championship, but also in the city’s clubland where he worked as a bouncer for many years.

Recently, Tracey continued her legacy by installing a new defibrillator and bleed device outside the Bambu Nightclub in downtown Birmingham. However, Tracey told the court she had been forced to view social media accounts used to run a homeless charity because she said abuse had been left in posts soliciting donations for the vulnerable.

She added: “I find myself under extreme pressure every day to try my best to continue my husband’s work in our community and support the most vulnerable. Since the court case in June 2021 I have tried to put the entire episode behind me.

“After Katie contacted me the day my husband died, I came back [the] worried and anxious about what he would do next. Katie has taken my peace from me at a time when I had to grieve the loss of my husband.

“I hope the court can help me end the terrible nightmare I’ve been having since 2018, not only for myself but for my family. A lifelong court order preventing contact is of no use in my case. I have never once responded to messages -her horrible messages but she continues to make my life a living hell.”

Following the verdict, he thanked his friends and family for their support and said he hoped it would give him some respite and said: “I hope the sentence handed down now will give me closure and peace in my life.”

Zaiban Alam, who has defended Bell before, told the court in 2021 that his client had been bullied relentlessly and was subjected to physical violence and emotional abuse. She said Bell was a sorry “lonely, broken young woman” and would never dream of targeting someone directly.