HULL MAN GIVEN SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR STALKING AND HARASSMENT
A relentless stalker left a woman in panic and fearing for her life after he refused to accept that their "toxic" relationship was over and went to extreme lengths to pursue, harass, and torment her.The woman described how the offender, Neil Ledden, 54, from Hull, made her life a complete misery by turning up uninvited at her home and workplace, bombarding her with emails and calls, and demanding to speak to her.
During one incident, he suddenly slammed on his car brakes, causing her vehicle to crash into his, as Hull Crown Court heard.
Ledden, who pleaded guilty to stalking the woman between October 1 and December 2, also admitted to careless driving and having no insurance on November 29.
He was remanded in custody after the incident and was subsequently sentenced to a 16-month suspended prison sentence along with other penalties.
The court was told that the woman had met Ledden about 14 years ago and they lived together for around nine years.
She described the relationship as "toxic from the very start," and it only intensified when she finally found the courage to end it.
She recounted how Ledden began a "campaign of stalking," attempting to reconcile through emails and false promises, despite her blocking him everywhere.
He took photos outside her home, looked through her windows, called her friends and family, arrived unannounced at her workplace, and approached her in public.
He also parked near her home, causing her to feel scared and unsafe.
Particularly alarming was an incident on November 4, when Ledden drove past her after she had entered her car; he stopped next to her and shouted: "I want to speak to you." On November 29, they drove past each other in Langhorn Drive, Howden, and Ledden turned back at high speed, pulled in front of her car, and stopped suddenly, leading to her crash.
She managed to spray SmartWater on him and his vehicle.
The court heard that the SmartWater, which contains a DNA code only visible under UV light, is police-issued and designed to mark property and individuals, making victims feel safer.
Despite the threats and harassment, the woman said the stalking had a severe emotional impact, leaving her frightened and on edge.
She stated, "This stalking has had such a serious impact on lots of different aspects of my life.
Some days, I'm okay and others I'm not.
I am scared to go out.
I think the impact of everything is only just hitting me now." Neil Ledden had numerous prior convictions—26 in total, including 10 involving assaults.
He had previously served time in prison in 2004, with his most recent conviction being in 2013.
The court heard that Ledden had been remanded into custody from December 3 to January 28 before being granted bail.
The defense attorney, Celine Kart, said that Ledden was remorseful and that rehabilitation had already begun.
He had recently been living in hotels after a period of homelessness and had suffered from issues including alcohol misuse.
In addition to the suspended sentence, Ledden was also ordered to undertake 20 days of rehabilitation, was given a five-year restraining order banning him from approaching the victim, and banned from driving for three months.
