MAN JAILED FOR UNRELENTING STALKING CAMPAIGN
A man named Darren Harrison has been sentenced to jail after engaging in a sustained pattern of harassment against two former girlfriends.Harrison, aged 27, made threats including one to push a pregnant woman down stairs, and his behaviour was characterized by a sheriff as a relentless campaign of intimidation.
During his court appearance at Alloa Sheriff Court on Thursday, March 12, prosecutor Lindsay Brooks spent 40 minutes detailing his convictions.
Harrison pleaded guilty to two separate charges related to his conduct.
The first charge covered actions between August 29, 2018, and May 27, 2019, at various locations, which caused fear or alarm to one of his ex-partners.
His actions included shouting and swearing, threatening suicide repeatedly, sending abusive messages through texts and social media, damaging her property, threatening violence, and accusing her of infidelity.
Additionally, he refused to leave her home and car when asked, sent a picture of himself with another woman, and even threatened to push her down stairs while she was pregnant.
He also sent her a lengthy email threatening self-harm, claimed to watch her via video cameras, accused her of lying, monitored her movements, and sent a disturbing image of a bloody body part, implying it belonged to him.
Further insults to her family were also made.
The second charge, dating from April 11, 2019, to October 16, 2019, involved harassment toward a different ex-partner, including repeated emails and visits despite her clear wish for no contact.
Harrison also sent a sexually explicit photo via email and threatened to share it with her current partner.
He contacted a friend of hers through Facebook, warning about sending more explicit images to her current partner.
Both charges were deemed domestic abuse aggravations.
In addition to the stalking charges, Harrison faced sentencing for threatening police officers on October 8 last year and violating bail conditions on January 9 this year.
During sentencing, defence lawyer Kelly Howe explained that Harrison was struggling to cope with the end of the relationships and cited his mental health struggles, including a history of self-harm and a diagnosis of mixed personality disorder.
However, she acknowledged his lack of empathy towards his victims, highlighted in a background report, and emphasized he needed to develop understanding of the impact on his victims.
Ms Howe warned that unless his attitude changes, he remains at a high risk of reoffending.
She also mentioned that his threatening behaviour was influenced by alcohol and a negative reaction towards police.
Sheriff Robert Dickson outlined the severity of the offenses, describing them as a long-lasting and relentless stalking campaign spanning up to nine months for one victim and six for the other.
He sentenced Harrison, who has no fixed address, to 14 months in prison, and he was also reprimanded for breaching bail conditions.
Additionally, a five-year non-harassment order was imposed, prohibiting Harrison from contacting or attempting to communicate with his former partners.
