MAN JAILED FOR STALKING CAMPAIGN CAUSING SERIOUS DISTRESS
Andrew Philip Russell, aged 35 and residing on George Street, was found guilty of stalking that caused significant alarm and distress following a nearly two-year campaign of abusive behaviour.He received a custodial sentence at York Crown Court on Friday, 21 November 2025.
Russell, who was in a relationship with another woman at the time he began to stalk his victim, engaged in efforts to intimidate her and instil fear for her safety.
Initially, the victim believed her ex-partner, who was imprisoned for assaulting her, was orchestrating the stalking and had tasked others to threaten her on his behalf.
Unaware of the truth, she was unaware that Russell was actually responsible for the threats and intimidation, disguising his actions as if her ex-partner from prison was executing them.
The harassment started with the installation of a tracking device on her car, followed by threatening messages sent from fake social media accounts, and multiple attempts to hack into her email and social media accounts.
Pretending to be her ex-partner, the threats conveyed messages that he was “angry at being in prison,” that he “wanted to punish her,” and that “people were being paid to surveil her.” The victim’s ordeal escalated when she returned home one day to find her house had been broken into, and later discovered her Wi-Fi and security cameras had been disabled.
She then received threatening phone calls and voice messages from unknown individuals, some of which contained voices she did not recognize.
Believing that her ex-partner was behind the threats and stalking, and not Russell who appeared to support her, she was so overwhelmed by fear that she refused to testify in court against her ex-partner.
Another witness involved in the case also declined to attend court due to threats of violence.
As the intimidation persisted, the victim eventually realised that Russell, not her ex-partner, was responsible for the harassment.
Police investigations confirmed Russell’s involvement, with CCTV footage capturing him topping up multiple phone numbers used in the stalking campaign.
Her repeated movements proved futile, as Russell tracked her down several times, once claiming he had taken a wrong turn in her new neighbourhood, forcing her to move again and uproot her children.
In a Victim Personal Statement read on her behalf in court, she expressed how the prolonged abuse and manipulation have severely affected her mental health.
She described living in constant fear and uncertainty, experiencing anxiety, and struggling with daily life.
The upheaval and the effort to protect her children while managing her own trauma had been overwhelming.
She continues to suffer from trust issues and feelings of vulnerability, requiring ongoing support.
Her statement reflected on the trauma her family had already endured, highlighting the profound impact of Russell’s actions.
Detective Sergeant Michelle Neighbour of North Yorkshire Police’s Stalking Support Team commended the victim’s bravery over the three-year ordeal.
She emphasised how Russell’s manipulative tactics, including fake profiles, were ultimately uncovered, leading to his guilty plea despite his denials and claims of victimhood.
The officer noted that stalking can have severe psychological and physical consequences, and North Yorkshire Police takes such offenses very seriously.
The department has a dedicated team providing tactical guidance to investigators and safeguarding support for high-risk victims.
She urged anyone experiencing unwanted contact, even from an ex-partner, to report it promptly.
During the investigation, authorities secured a Stalking Protection Order (SPO) against Russell, initially granting interim powers to prevent further offenses and manage him within the community.
A full five-year SPO was later approved, with the judge recommending a 10-year order upon Russell’s release from prison.
The offending behaviour began while the victim was living in the Selby district.
