Case study
Stalking Victim Urges Others to Take Action
A woman who was the victim of stalking has urged others not to suffer like she did.
Emma, who is from Huddersfield, was stalked by an ex boyfriend for years before she realised he was actually committing a crime. She knew what he was doing was wrong but hadn’t thought to report it to the Police.
She wants to highlight her story so that other victims won’t suffer for as long as she did.
In November 2013, stalking became a specific offence in England and Wales for the first time after amendments were made to the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.
The amendments make the distinction between harassment, which can be distressing behaviour and stalking where the perpetrator has a fixated obsession with the victim.
Emma suffered months of stalking ranging from phone calls, unwanted gifts, waiting outside her house to smashing her windows, entering her house without permission and threats to hurt her and her boyfriend.
She said she only really realised the seriousness of what was going on when she went to make a Police statement:
“When I went to make a statement at the police station John was waiting outside my house.
Unbelievably, he asked if I wanted to go for a drink before I went. When I told the Policeman about John’s behaviour, he said ‘So he’s actually stalking you’.
Up to this point I hadn’t realised, I just thought he was a man who loved me and wasn’t coping with me seeing someone else. The Policeman took me home, searched outside and promised me he would catch him that night. He did - about 30 minutes later he was arrested. I later found out he was carrying a Stanley knife – earlier that week he told me he would wait for my boyfriend and stick it in his neck.”
She explained the effect months of stalking had on her: “By this time I was physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted. I’d had months of trying to be one step ahead of him, devising different ways of walking to and from work (until my work colleague, worried for my safety, began driving me), of sitting in the dark, jumping at every noise outside, continually looking over my shoulder plus the emotional blackmail and continuous calls. I felt I was heading for a nervous breakdown.”
Detective Chief Inspector Sue Jenkinson, for West Yorkshire Police, said: “If you think you are being harassed or stalked you can seek an injunction under the Protection from Harassment Act. If the police charge someone with a crime and that person appears at court the court can make a restraining order under the Act, even if the person is found not guilty.
Harassment and stalking are crimes that can have a devastating impact on victims. Nationally around one in five women and one in 10 men will be stalked at some point in their lives.
We want everyone affected by stalking to know that there is help available and that they are not alone. Stalking is illegal and no one should have to endure it.”
Stalking and harassment can come out in many different ways and can cause victims to feel alarmed or distressed or to fear that violence may be used against them.
Harassment might include such things as antisocial behaviour, bullying at school or in the workplace, cyber stalking on the internet, sending abusive text messages or unwanted gifts.
Stalking can include persistently following a person, repeatedly going uninvited to their home, monitoring someone’s use of the internet, email or other form of electronic communication, loitering somewhere frequented by the person, interfering with their property, watching or spying on someone and identity theft.
Anyone affected by stalking can call the National Stalking and Harassment Helpline on 0808 802 0300.
You can contact police on the non emergency number 101. In an emergency, or if a crime is in progress, always ring 999.
Emma’s final message to those who might be suffering from stalking is to take action now: “If you find yourself in the same position as me – get the support of the Police. Realise the seriousness of stalking and be aware of the dangers and keep yourself safe.”
