Hell-bent on ‘revenge’, warehouse worker Tayyab Bilal Ahmad, 28, launched a four-month stalking campaign, bombarding Louise with hundreds of texts and calls a day, before pouring bleach over her possessions and torching her flat in a final showdown.
Terrified Louise was left fearing for her and her daughter’s life.
Now, while Ahmad is behind bars awaiting sentencing, Louise still suffers nightmares and has been signed off sick from her job as a beautician.
Worryingly, Louise - who plans to have counselling - isn’t alone.
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An estimated 120,000 predominantly female victims report being stalked every year.
In November 2012, a landmark law was introduced making stalking a criminal offence with a jail sentence of up to five years – and prosecutions for stalking and harassment have increased by more than 20 per cent.
Louise tells Closer she supports the proposal of a stalkers’ register - where offenders would be forced to tell police if they start a new relationship or move to a new area - which would enable police to keep tabs on them.
Louise, who lives in Edinburgh with her daughter, says:
“Tayyab ruined my life. I couldn’t go anywhere without feeling I was being watched.
"Thankfully me and my daughter weren’t home when he started the fire, but I wasn’t insured, lost all my possessions and the damage cost thousands. I’m now living in temporary accommodation and my mum has had to help me out financially.
"I’m relieved he’s behind bars now – I thought he wasn’t going to stop until he killed me.
“I’ve since found out Tayyab had been banned from contacting his ex in 2013 for similar reasons. I never would have gone out with him if I’d known what he was capable of. A register could save lives.”
To read more of Louise's story, pick up your copy of this week's Closer.