DANIEL NEWBY STALKER FROM WHITTINGHAM SENTENCED FOR HARASSMENT IN PRESTON

In April 2023, a man named Daniel Newby was sentenced to prison after a prolonged and malicious campaign of stalking and harassment targeting a woman in her 50s from Kent. The incident, which spanned over two and a half years from September 2016 to April 2019, involved a series of disturbing and targeted actions that caused significant distress to the victim.

Daniel Newby, aged 44 and residing on St John’s Drive in Whittingham, Preston, appeared before Preston Crown Court last Friday, April 21st. The court sentenced him to 25 months in prison for his involvement in the stalking activities. The case revealed a pattern of relentless harassment, including the sending of approximately 1,200 messages via Twitter, where Newby repeatedly called the woman derogatory names such as ‘a junkie,’ ‘thief,’ and ‘scumbag.’

Beyond online abuse, Newby took his harassment further by creating a website dedicated to the victim. On this site, he posted manipulated images, including photoshopped pictures of her face onto sexually explicit images. He also published personal details about her, including sensitive medical information. One particularly heinous post claimed she had previously overdosed, accompanied by a cruel caption stating: “She’s not very good at committing suicide, maybe we can club together and do it for her.”

During police interviews, Newby justified his actions by claiming that his harassment stemmed from prior business dealings with the woman. However, law enforcement officials, including PC Adam Lake of Preston Police, condemned his actions as a sustained and malicious campaign designed to inflict emotional pain and distress. PC Lake emphasized that Newby’s online activities, which included sharing deeply personal and traumatic information, were unacceptable. He stated, “This was a sustained and malicious campaign of harassment which Newby engaged in, knowing it would cause distress and worry for the victim. He posted extremely personal information about her online, including information that referred to past trauma. Clearly this is absolutely, unacceptable and we hope this shows that hiding behind a website or username online does not make you any less guilty of a crime.”

The victim expressed her relief and gratitude towards the authorities, particularly praising PC Adam Lake for his integrity and kindness throughout the investigation. She stated, “I would like to thank the investigating officer PC Adam Lake. He always approached the investigation with integrity and kindness at all times. Without his understanding of the crime and what Daniel Newby was doing to me, I’m not sure that I would be here today to thank him.” She also thanked prosecutor Francis McEntee, the witness care team, and Judge Archer for their roles in the case.

The victim described Newby as a “cold-hearted and callous stalker” who, along with others, attempted to encourage her to take her own life. She detailed how Newby created fake images and documents, including fabricated newspaper articles, to further torment her. She expressed her hope for legal reforms, advocating that individuals involved in creating such sexually explicit fake images should face charges of sexual offenses and be subject to sex offender restrictions. Furthermore, it was revealed that Newby had illegally acquired control of two corporate domains, which he used to stalk, share misinformation, and incite harm against her. His language was described as violent and degrading, with discussions about causing her maximum harm, either through self-harm or by inciting others to do so.

Overall, the case highlights the severity of online harassment and the importance of legal measures to protect victims from such relentless abuse. Daniel Newby’s sentencing serves as a stark reminder that cyber harassment, especially when combined with physical threats and personal invasions, will be met with strict judicial consequences.