'MY FORMER DRIVING INSTRUCTOR STALKER MADE MY LIFE HELL'
Ashley Watson, aged 61 from Abbeymead in Gloucester, received a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years, at Swindon Crown Court for stalking offences.The victim reported that Watson caused significant distress, expressing a desire for the harassment to end.
The case emerged alongside a Freedom of Information request by the BBC, which disclosed over 500 complaints related to inappropriate or sexual conduct by driving instructors to the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) from 2020 to 2023.
Watson’s victim, now in her twenties, began driving lessons at 17 while in foster care.
She described herself as vulnerable and recalled how Watson befriended her and offered her a safe place to stay, before becoming increasingly obsessed.
After she successfully passed her driving test and ceased lessons, he started stalking her.
She recounted that he would follow her, spread rumours, and send her cards by post.
When she sought to be left alone, he would send images indicating he might harm himself.
The situation worsened after she reported him to the police.
She saw him sitting at the end of her street and found him outside her home, peering through her rubbish bin.
Following his arrest and subsequent release on bail, her situation deteriorated further; she was even wrongly arrested at one point, which she described as particularly traumatic.
In September, Watson admitted to stalking in Gloucester Crown Court, receiving a suspended sentence and a seven-year restraining order during a hearing on Thursday.
Throughout the process, Wiltshire-based charity FearFree supported her, offering advocacy and assistance.
Her advocate Jayne emphasized the severe impact stalking had on her, noting her vulnerability due to her age and circumstances.
She called for more specialized support services for victims, highlighting that stalking’s unique effects often require expert intervention.
Jayne pointed out gaps within the criminal justice system and stressed that persistent stalking victims need dedicated advocates.
In response to the FOI request, the DVSA confirmed that the safety of learner drivers is their main concern, and that complaints about approved driving instructors (ADIs) are thoroughly investigated, involving police when necessary.
They encourage pupils to report any inappropriate behaviour.
The victim expressed a desire for enhanced regulations to protect learners, especially those under 18.
She highlighted that while Watson held a position of power over her, the law does not currently recognize such roles as involving a formal trust — a designation that applies to professions like teachers or social workers.
To become an approved driving instructor, an individual must be deemed a “fit and proper” person, with the DVSA assessing factors such as past complaints and criminal record, including any bans from working with children.
