STALKER JAILED AFTER LEAVING WATFORD VICTIM PETRIFIED AND ‘MANIPULATED’
Jack Deanus, aged 22, engaged in an increasingly aggressive campaign against his former partner from Watford after their breakup.He persistently sent her messages, followed her, and appeared uninvited at her residence and workplace.
Following the separation on February 23, Deanus continued reaching out through calls and an incessant stream of texts, which led to her blocking him on March 1.
Prosecutor Ryan Thompson stated: “He turned up outside her home.
She went to speak to him and asked him to leave her alone.” On March 2 and 3, Deanus was seen outside her house and kept attempting to contact her.
Thompson added: “On March 7, he sent her a message asking if she wanted a lift from Watford train station as he was by The Flag pub.
“The following day he sent a picture of himself waiting at the train station when she was at work in London.
He then called her over 100 times that evening.” At Blackfriars tube station, he approached her while she was with two colleagues and handed her a teddy bear.
When he seemed to board the same train, one of her friends intervened to prevent it.
Police issued a warning, but Deanus persisted in contacting her via Twitter and followed her home from the station.
He was arrested on March 21 and released on bail with restrictions on contacting her, which he breached when he confronted her in an attempt to get her to drop the complaint, the court heard.
Deanus continued messaging her, referencing their sexual past and sending explicit messages.
According to prosecutor Thompson, Deanus further violated his bail by appearing on her street on April 2 as she walked home from work, supposedly apologising.
The following day, as she headed to the station, he approached her and called her a profane insult.
He claimed he was at her house the night before while police were there, saying, “I was at your house under your nose.” Throughout the hearing, Deanus of Belmont Close, Uxbridge, was seen crying in the dock.
He pleaded guilty to charges of stalking and attempting to pervert the course of justice and was present for sentencing.
Defence lawyer Bill Maley suggested Deanus showed a lack of maturity but had ceased his behaviour after being bailed.
He noted: “He has shown remorse.
It was his first relationship, he was very much in love and besotted with her.
He has good references and has a lot to offer the community.” Judge Caroline Wigin remarked: “This has had a dreadful effect on this young woman.
She couldn’t sleep and became shaky when she saw you.
She was crying at work.
“She felt manipulated by you.
You threatened to commit suicide and said she was ruining your life.
You always put your own needs before hers.
You made her mother scared for her.
She had to monitor her movements and ring to check she had arrived at work.
“The sexualised messages made her feel sick and violated.
This course of conduct persisted.” A restraining order was issued by the judge, prohibiting Deanus from contacting the victim or approaching her home or workplace.
