WOMAN 'LIVING IN NEVER-ENDING PANIC' AFTER EX BREACHED COURT ORDER
A woman experienced relentless fear and anxiety after her former partner disregarded police guidance and continued to harass her, significantly affecting her well-being.Andrew Bagshaw's actions deeply disturbed Claire Harris and her family, including her 10-year-old son who has autism.
Their relationship had been tumultuous, characterized by breaks and reconciliations over the years, and they shared a child.
Arrangements for contact were overseen by the family court.
However, the nature of their interactions deteriorated, leading to a non-molestation order being issued in May 2020 due to Bagshaw's conduct.
Recently, Bagshaw, aged 44 and residing in Hayle, appeared before Truro Crown Court.
A compelling victim impact statement was read aloud to the court, highlighting the emotional toll on Harris before he received a sentence for violating the court order.
Prosecuting the case, Francesca Whebell told the court that Baghaw "knew in no uncertain terms what the terms were" but in 2021 proceeded to send numerous text messages and contact Ms Harris and her husband and continued despite a stern telling off from police.
In a victim impact statement which Ms Harris bravely read to the court, she spoke of living in fear of what Bagshaw will do and the upset bumping into him locally causes her and her family.
She said: "My family and I have spent the last 17 months living on the edge and in fear, almost every aspect of our lives has had to change and still must change daily.
I have a 10-year-old son who has autism, his life needs routine.
He is much happier and settled with routine and order.
"Our lives have to be the complete opposite to what he would thrive on.
If we have any routine it leaves us open to stalking and harassment from Andy.
"We have to change all we can as often as we can.
Our route home from school, my working hours, we even pay more to have a shorter lease on our car to be able to change it as often as possible just so maybe before Andy gets our new car details we get a few weeks of peace.
"We all change our telephone numbers every 12 months.
Andy is everywhere that I am.
I am constantly looking around supermarket aisles, in the car parks, scouring the beach just to check if he is around.
We rarely take our children out on local days out anymore, when we have a day off work together, we always go out of Cornwall because it’s the only way we feel safe.
"We have done 3,000 miles in our car in 16 months, this is because we drive so far away for a day of peace knowing we can feel safe and that Andy can't see us on a local web cam or that one of his friends might spot us and call him to let him know where we are.
It sounds a little insane but this is our life.
"Our children shouldn’t have to get used to it, but now it's just part of our life to leave the county so that we can all feel safe and enjoy family days.
We can never show any interest in any local event on social media for fear that he will find out where we are going.
Andy doesn’t care about authority in his opinion he is allowed to do as he pleases and that’s it.
I've known him for long enough to know exactly how he views any authority and justice system.
"I say to my close friends all the time 'my biggest fear is that he will go too far one day and I will be found dead'.
I think they think I’m joking, but I’m not.
I keep calm and collected whenever he is following us, or staring at us from wherever he has found us but inside I'm destroyed.
"We do now make sure we report every incident because our children are now affected massively by all the reported breaches, it's rare that one of them isn’t with me.
As adults we can manage it the best we can, but the children do not deserve to have to deal with this kind of stress and worry daily.
My family didn’t choose him.
Coming into their lives is my fault and I carry that guilt every time I see one of them scared by his latest actions." Bagshaw was sentenced to a 12 month community order, consisting of a rehabilitation activity requirement and a three month Friday and Saturday 8pm to 8am curfew.
Crucially a 10 year restraining order was put in place to protect those involved in the case, banning Bagshaw from making contact or going to certain areas.
He must also pay £1,500 court costs.
