MIDDLESBROUGH MAN HANDED SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR STALKING EX-PARTNER
A man who caused his former partner to feel "terrorized" by conducting a campaign of stalking has been warned he could face prison if he contacts her again.Nigel Smith, aged 55, repeatedly bombarded his victim with hundreds of messages via social media, sent her unwanted gifts, and posted pictures of her children online.
The court heard that Smith had previous convictions for similar offences and had difficulty accepting the end of relationships.
Emma Atkinson, the prosecutor, stated that Smith engaged in the stalking between July and September of last year.
The victim reported feeling "intimidated and anxious" as a result, and added in her victim statement that she is now "wary of going out alone and can't go anywhere without the fear of being watched." She also expressed fear of Smith's potential to act on his threats, claiming she feels "mentally broken" and is on medication to cope with stress.
Smith pleaded guilty to a single charge of stalking.
His defense lawyer, Tom Bennett, explained that Smith has taken steps to change his behaviour and requested a suspended sentence.
However, Judge Peter Makepeace QC sentenced Smith to 20 months in custody, suspended for two years, and imposed an indefinite restraining order.
The judge described Smith's actions as having made the victim's life "a misery" and left her "mentally broken." The court also ordered Smith to attend 30 days of rehabilitation activity, follow a six-month curfew from 7 pm to 7 am, and be monitored over six months.
The court reminded Smith that any breach of the conditions could lead to imprisonment, issuing the warning: "You have that hanging over you for two years, if you do anything whatsoever to breach the terms of the order or the suspended sentence, you will go to prison."
