STALKER FOLLOWED SUBJECTING HER TO 'MENTAL TORTURE'
A man convicted of stalking and psychological abuse toward his former partner has received a custodial sentence.Thomas Whitley, aged 29 and from Wigan, conducted a campaign of threats and harassment that spanned seven weeks, involving hundreds of text messages and phone calls.
During this period, he also made threats indicating suicidal intentions.
Sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court, Whitley received a term of two years and three months for creating a fearful environment for his victim, Kelly Sutch, during January and February.
His behavior included numerous attempts to contact Ms.
Sutch in Greater Manchester, which led her to relocate 250 miles away to escape him.
The day he was detained in February, Whitley breached bail restrictions by following her to a near Canterbury address, claiming falsely that he was on vacation.
Over a few days, he placed about 500 phone calls, including 106 missed calls on one day alone.
The prosecution characterised his actions as “mental torture,” noting the carefully orchestrated nature of his harassment.
“She didn’t feel safe in her home and was struggling to keep the defendant out of her life.
She was scared he would do her serious harm,” prosecutor Richard Hutchins said.
“She describes mental torture, she describes constantly looking out of the window.
“There must have been a high degree of planning.
He drove from one side of the country to the other.” During the trial, the victim appeared by video link, visibly distressed as the prosecutor detailed false allegations Whitley made against her regarding drug use and marital fidelity.
Mitigating, Edmund Fowler stated that Whitley had admitted guilt early on and had already been detained under strict conditions, including restrictions during the pandemic.
“He has spent 10 months in prison at the worst time, possibly, dating back to Victorian times,” Mr Fowler said.
Judge Mark Weekes told Whitley his “course of conduct” caused his victim “very considerable concern”.
Whitley, who resides on Almond Green Avenue in Wigan, pleaded guilty to stalking that caused severe distress and also admitted to driving uninsured earlier this year.
He will be subject to an indefinite restraining order and will have six points added to his driving license.
Any time served in custody will decrease his overall sentence.
