Ex-wife tells of terror
Gazette & Herald
17th January 2008
www.gazetteandherald.co.uk
By Laura Williams
The former wife of a Lyneham airman jailed for having a sawn off shotgun, told the Gazette of her torment at the hands of her ex-husband after he moved in just a few doors away from her.

Marsha Williams, 34, was married to Senior Aircraftsman Mark Parker for 16 years before he walked out on her and in to the arms of another woman. Miss Williams' devastation soon turned to relief so she filed for divorce and focused on their two children.

But tensions rose and Miss Williams faced frequent arguments with her 35-year-old ex-husband, who she'd met at the age of 15.

As things went from bad to worse Parker became even more intimidating and began leaving messages for his ex-wife on the website Friends Reunited. One read: "Revenge is a dish best served cold. Best you remember that bitch. Won't say who as that could be considered a threat, she will know who she is and should be very afraid. Keep looking over your shoulder."

The divorce came through in May 2005. Months later, Miss Williams was evicted from her RAF home in Lyneham so moved to a privately rented house in Comet Close in the same village. Months later Parker moved into a house just a few doors down and used to drive past her house up to eight times a day.

Miss Williams, who now lives on the outskirts of Chippenham, said: "He was very clever and knew how to intimidate me without committing a crime.

He would threaten men I went out with and tell me I was ugly, pathetic and a bad mum. He would drive past my house staring in, laughing and jeering."

But last March, during another row, a drunk Parker blurted out that he had a gun and threatening to shoot one of his son's 12-year-old friends.

Miss Williams said: "At first I thought he was joking but his new wife told me he was telling the truth and I really started to worry.

"Things got a bit out of control and he ended up shoving me about and pouring a can of beer over me and locking my daughter in his house. I didn't know what he could be capable of, he was no longer the Mark I knew, so I called the police. They interviewed me and that's when I told them about the gun."

A few days later police raided Parker's house and found a sawn-off shotgun, ammunition and surgical gloves. He pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited weapon and was jailed for five years last week by a judge at Swindon Crown Court.

Miss Williams said: "Although I'm glad he can't personally hurt us anymore I still worry about his family and friends. He managed to convince everyone that I was the controlling one, not letting him go out or have money for lunch but the truth was he didn't want friends and he'd left us in so much debt. He was a predator and that's what they do.

"I've had counselling and that has helped me and I've just started a new job. I'm stronger than I thought and I've got two wonderful children and we just want to get on with our lives. They've had so much stress to deal with and it's not fair on them.

"I want Mark to face up to his actions. It just doesn't bear thinking about what could've happened if Mark hadn't been arrested."

A spokesman for RAF Lyneham said they were unable to comment on the specifics of the case as it was a civil police matter. They confirmed that Senior Aircraftsman Mark Parker would be discharged from the RAF while in prison due to his criminal record.