MANSFIELD MAN JAILED AFTER STALKING WOMAN
A man from Mansfield, identified as 31-year-old Sam Wood of Carlton Street, has been given a two-year prison sentence after admitting to stalking a woman and committing various assault offenses.Wood pleaded guilty to charges including stalking, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and driving without insurance.
Additionally, following a trial, he was convicted of assault causing actual bodily harm, assault by beating, and dangerous driving.
During one assault on September 8, 2018, Wood pushed the woman into a fridge and onto a bed, restraining her physically.
In response, she bit him to escape and fled, but Wood followed and kicked her.
On October 13, 2018, while she was driving, Wood leaned into her car and verbally abused her.
When she tried to leave, he grabbed the handbrake to prevent her from driving away.
He then pulled her back by her hair before she managed to escape.
The victim reported that Wood often followed her home, leaving her feeling unsafe and frightened.
She also received multiple threatening phone calls, voice messages, and emails from him, which caused her significant distress.
On October 19, 2018, Wood was also seen banging on her door and verbally abusing her at her residence.
The persistent harassment led her to change her phone and move to a different address.
On October 31, 2018, she was driving to work when she noticed Wood in a car behind her, which panicked her.
He overtook her and then pulled in front of her vehicle, forcing her to stop abruptly as she could not reverse due to traffic behind her.
Wood exited his car, banging on her window and shouting at her, while she stayed inside.
He then returned to his car, but after initially seeming to drive away, he turned around and parked beside her.
He continued shouting at her while she was on the phone with police, causing her to feel anxious and scared.
Police attempted to arrest Wood at a property in Mansfield on November 2, 2018.
Officers were informed he was driving a car, which he sped off in, leading officers on a chase.
About ten minutes later, officers spotted a van driven by Wood that failed to stop.
After a short pursuit, they located and arrested him.
Following his sentencing at Nottingham Crown Court on January 10, 2019, Detective Constable Janet Percival praised the courage of the woman and witnesses involved in bringing Wood to justice.
She expressed hope that the woman's ordeal would now end and she could start to rebuild her life.
The police reaffirmed their commitment to investigating and prioritizing stalking cases, working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service and partner agencies to protect victims.
