STEVEN HAWKER FROM GRAMPOUND ROAD HARASSES WOMAN IN TRURO AND ST AUSTELL

A woman from the vicinity of Truro and St Austell was subjected to a prolonged campaign of harassment and intimidation by Steven Hawker, a man who had no prior connection to her. The disturbing series of events spanned over a decade, during which Hawker, 49, from Parcandowr in Grampound Road, persistently followed, stared at, approached, and even laughed at her in public spaces. His actions were driven by a delusional belief that she posed a danger to children, and that it was his moral duty to intervene and protect the community from her perceived threat.

According to the court proceedings at Truro Crown Court on Friday, March 28, Hawker’s behavior persisted despite a court-imposed non-stalking order. He continued to fix his gaze on the victim, visit her workplace, and stand at her bus stop for hours, even when she did not intend to take the bus. Witnesses described how he would approach her in a menacing manner, often laughing in her proximity, and stare through her car window when her vehicle was stationary in traffic. The court heard that Hawker would frequent the Londis shop located in The Square in Grampound Road, positioning himself in such a way that the victim would be forced to squeeze past him. During these encounters, he would ask her if she was still afraid of him, further exacerbating her fear.

The victim, along with her partner and children, had been living in constant fear since the troubling behavior first began in 2013. Her distress was compounded by Hawker’s refusal to cease his actions, even after a stalking protection order was issued by Cornwall magistrates on January 26, 2021. Despite this legal intervention, Hawker continued his campaign of harassment, breaching the order multiple times between May and September of the previous year.

Following his latest breaches, Hawker was arrested and subsequently pleaded guilty to charges of stalking that caused serious alarm and distress, as well as breaching the stalking order. During the court hearing, it was revealed that Hawker did not fully understand or accept the harm he had caused. He claimed that his presence near the victim was merely coincidental or due to bad timing, showing a lack of insight into the impact of his actions.

Ed Bailey, representing Hawker, explained that his client’s mental health had deteriorated significantly following a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. Bailey emphasized that Hawker’s offending was rooted in his mental disorder, which he described as delusional. He noted that Hawker was in partial denial about his condition and had limited awareness of how his behavior affected the victim. Bailey also mentioned that Hawker was on anti-psychotic injections three times a month but did not always adhere to his medication regimen.

The court was informed that Hawker’s erratic and delusional conduct had led to social ostracism for the victim and her family, with some friends shunning them due to his actions. His Honour Judge Simon Carr acknowledged the severity of Hawker’s mental health issues but pointed out that he had not always accepted or sought help for his condition. The judge stated that the existing protection orders had failed to prevent Hawker’s behavior and that only a custodial sentence could adequately protect the victim from further harm.

Consequently, Judge Carr sentenced Hawker to two years in prison. He will serve 40% of the sentence, with any time spent on remand counting towards his total. Additionally, a five-year restraining order and tagging curfew were imposed to restrict Hawker’s movements and contact with the victim. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness of the case and the need to safeguard individuals from individuals suffering from severe mental health issues that manifest in dangerous behaviors.