WALPOLE ST ANDREW MAN ADMITS STALKING EX-PARTNER
A man from Walpole St Andrew has admitted to stalking his former partner, including placing a tracking device on her vehicle following the end of their relationship.Michael Bocking, aged 58, of Walpole Bank, appeared at Lynn’s Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 4 January, where he pleaded guilty to a charge of engaging in a course of conduct between November 2017 and June 2018 that amounted to stalking.
He acknowledged that his behaviour constituted harassment, or that he should have known it would.
Bocking also admitted to repeatedly sending his former partner unwanted communications via email, WhatsApp, and text message.
Prosecutor Josephine Jones told the court: “The defendant and the complainant in this case had been in a relationship for a number of years and have a daughter.” She continued: “From the victim impact statement, it is clear that this was a controlling relationship from an early stage.” Mrs Jones explained that after the relationship ended, Bocking continued to contact the woman, despite her clear wishes to the contrary.
“When the relationship came to an end, that should have been it.
However, despite ending the relationship, the defendant was contacting the complainant by text, email and WhatsApp, which led to her contacting the police.” In May of the previous year, Bocking was served with a police information notice which explicitly stated that no further contact was desired.
However, in June, the complainant again approached police after discovering a tracking device fitted to her car.
Forensic testing of the device revealed Bocking’s DNA.
“This was unwanted contact and it did have a very negative impact on her, as she felt like she was being watched,” Mrs Jones added.
Although not all messages were overtly threatening, they indicated that Bocking was attempting to monitor her activities.
His behaviour came to a head when a neighbour spotted him at the complainant’s home, prompting his arrest.
In his interview with police, Bocking claimed that his ex-partner had “gone back on everything she had said” and added, “I don’t recognise her anymore.” He told officers that any contact had related to his daughter and that the tracking device had been installed to monitor his child’s movements.
Mrs Jones confirmed that an application for a restraining order would be submitted.
Defence solicitor Alison Muir told the court: “The period of time covered by these charges is from November 2017 to June last year.
Since then, there has been no further contact.” She added: “It is fair to say it was a somewhat difficult relationship, as previously the complainant had been married to my client’s wife’s son.
When that relationship broke down, they started a relationship.” Ms Muir explained that her client had cared deeply for the complainant, though there were suspicions of infidelity which caused him to question her trustworthiness.
“He did feel somewhat let down, but what he did was not the right thing to do,” she said.
“He wants to move on with his life.” She acknowledged that Bocking had acted wrongly and had insulted the complainant during heated moments, but said he had initially hoped for a reconciliation.
Presiding magistrate Anna Piggott told the court that the bench deemed the matter serious enough to require pre-sentence reports in order to determine an appropriate sentencing approach.
The case was adjourned to 25 January for sentencing, pending the preparation of an “all options” report.
Bocking was granted unconditional bail.
