A 44-year-old man has been arrested in Naples after police accused him of subjecting his former wife to a prolonged pattern of alleged domestic abuse, threats, stalking and intimidation.

The arrest was carried out by Carabinieri officers from the San Giovanni a Teduccio station after investigators examined a series of incidents involving the man’s 37-year-old former wife and their two children, aged 13 and 10. The man is facing allegations of family mistreatment and persecutory acts, commonly associated with stalking.

The case came to wider attention after the woman reportedly discovered a threatening message outside the home where she lives with her children. The message allegedly contained a direct threat against the woman and her children, according to Italian media reports.

Investigators said the alleged behaviour developed after the couple’s relationship ended. Their separation was formally established through a consensual procedure before the Civil Court of Naples in July. According to the woman’s complaint, her former husband allegedly struggled to accept the end of the relationship and subsequently began contacting her repeatedly through phone calls and messages.

She also reportedly told investigators that he followed her to places she regularly visited and subjected her to verbal confrontations and accusations driven by what she described as unfounded jealousy.

Alleged Physical Assault

The investigation includes an alleged physical assault reported on August 28. According to the woman’s account to investigators, she returned home from work and found the man allegedly intoxicated.

The encounter reportedly escalated into insults and physical violence. The woman alleged that he pulled her hair and struck her in the face and head, forcing her to leave the home for her safety.

Later that day, she reportedly returned with her children, but the situation allegedly deteriorated again. Investigators were told that furniture inside the home was damaged and that objects were allegedly thrown during another confrontation.

The woman received medical treatment at Evangelico Villa Betania Hospital, where she was reportedly diagnosed with multiple injuries and given a two-day prognosis. She subsequently filed a complaint, triggering Italy’s emergency procedure known as the “Codice Rosso,” which is used in cases involving certain forms of domestic and gender-based violence.

Allegations Continued After Complaint

According to the investigation, the alleged incidents did not end after the complaint.

On August 31, the man reportedly went to the home of the woman’s father, where she had taken refuge with the children. Authorities were told that he allegedly damaged the building’s entrance while demanding to see or take the children.

Later, investigators said he allegedly appeared outside the woman’s new residence during the night and made threats. Another reported incident occurred on September 14, when the woman allegedly encountered him while returning home. She reportedly sought assistance from her father after the man allegedly followed her.

On September 23, the threatening message was reportedly discovered outside her home.

The situation reached another stage when the woman reportedly returned home and found the apartment heavily damaged. Reports said furniture had been broken, a refrigerator had been overturned and other household items had been scattered or damaged.

Following the latest report, Carabinieri officers began searching for the former husband. He later reportedly appeared at the San Giovanni a Teduccio police station, where authorities proceeded with his arrest and the enforcement of a judicial order issued by a judge in Naples.

The man was transferred to Poggioreale prison and placed at the disposal of judicial authorities. Italian reports said the arrest involved both the mechanism of delayed arrest in connection with the alleged offences and the execution of a precautionary order issued by the Naples judge.

The investigation remains part of the Italian judicial process. The allegations against the accused have not been established as final facts, and he remains entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until guilt is determined by a court.