'Jealous' ex turned up at former girlfriend's Chelsea home with sex toy and a photo showing her 'dog drowning'
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An ex-Royal Ballet dancer turned up at his ex's home with a birthday sex toy and a photo showing her 'dog drowning', a court has heard.
Andrej Uspenski, 38, personally delivered an "odd-shaped" package containing the intimate item to Tatjana Novitjenko's home in Chelsea, west London.
He also delivered a card and a photo of her dog to the property during a campaign of harassment, Westminster Magistrates' Court was told.
The image was edited to make it appear as if the canine was "drowning", it was said.
Uspenski was in a relationship with Ms Novitjenko - who manages a top ballet star - for under a year after the pair first met in May 2016.
(Image: Instagram)
Katie Bryan, prosecuting, told the court that they broke up in July 2017, with Ms Novitjenko describing Uspenski as being "jealous and protective".
Following their split, Uspenski sent the victim a number of aggressive messages and expressed anger about her aborting his baby, the court heard.
Despite a harassment notice being issued, the texts continued, it was said.
Ms Bryan told the court: "The complainant had been in a relationship with the defendant for eight months.
"It started in September 2016 and they moved in together in June 2017.
"The victim described him as being jealous and protective and they broke up in July 2017.
"He moved out of their shared flat taking most of his belongings and she took the rest to his place of work.
"After that he sent her a number of aggressive messages and there was an order made that he was not to contact her.
(Image: Getty)
"In one he expressed anger about her aborting his baby in July 2017.
"A harassment notice was then issued but texts continued, asking for receipts from his photography business.
"On 14 September 2017 he sent flowers to her front door which said, 'This time last year I kissed the most beautiful girl in the world'.
"On 19 September he sent two emails, the first written in Russian about recent photos she had taken part in."
In the email, Uspenski asked: "What's this picture? What poses are these? You want to be on a Baywatch photo shoot," the court heard.
"A second written in English, apologising for contacting her and that he forgot about the seven-year rule," Ms Bryan said .
Ms Novitjenko contacted the police but Uspenski was undetered.
"On or around 20th October, while she was out of the country for her birthday, her flatmate received an odd-shaped package from the defendant which contained a double-ended [sex toy],' the prosecutor continued.
"Initially she thought it was a joke from another friend messing around, but then discovered a note with the defendant's hand writing.
"It said: 'Life is that serious, oh yes, life is that serious, but not really'.
"Attached to the card was a photo of her dog, photo-shopped to make it look like the dog was drowning."
Ms Novitjenko told police she was "very anxious and concerned that it could escalate further", the court was told.
Uspenski danced at the Royal Ballet for more than a decade as First Artist until an injury forced him to retire.
He became a photographer and continues to work in the profession within the Royal Opera House.
In an interview in 2016, he said: "It sounds strange, but when I see somebody dancing, I know who they are - dancers are naked on stage.
"It's an inside knowledge from years of dancing myself."
Chief Magistrate, Maeve Bromwich, told him: "We are going to adjourn this matter today so that we can have some presentence reports about you.
"You are not to contact Tatjana Novitjenko, you're not to contact her either directly or indirectly, no telephone calls, text messages, not through social media. If you see her on the street you cross over and walk the other way.
"No flowers, no packages - nothing."
Uspenski, of Hampstead, admitted harassment without violence. He was bailed with the conditions not to contact Ms Novitjenko or go to her address.
He will appear for sentencing at Westminster Magistrates' Court on February 22.