DEWSBURY CANNABIS ADDICT BANNED FOR STALKING MUM AND DEMANDING £8K
A man has been banned from contacting his own mother after stalking her for nearly a year.Adam Sharp, 29 years old, of West Park Street in Dewsbury, persistently harassed his mother by bombarding her with demands for money, eventually leading her to transfer approximately £8,000 to him.
The court was informed that Sharp labeled his mother as 'unworthy' and at one point threatened her with violence to support his £25 daily cannabis addiction.
When he appeared at Kirklees Magistrates' Court, Sharp pleaded guilty to a stalking charge.
Prosecutor Jess Lister explained that Sharp's inappropriate behavior lasted from March 1 of the previous year until January 24 of the current year.
She recounted that Sharp initially relied on his mother for financial support after his marriage broke down.
His demands swelled from simple requests for help with bills to more sinister threats and abusive messages.
She described how he would call her multiple times daily, sometimes using no caller ID after being blocked, and that he left threatening voicemails, calling her names, questioning her motives, and claiming she was not worthy of being his mother.
Sharp also threatened to damage her property, telling her, 'If you don't give me money you'd better keep your eye on your car,' and 'You'd better watch your windows.' Her partner overheard Sharp calling her a 'f****g b****h.' Fearing his violent tendencies, the victim transferred the funds online, feeling he would turn up at her Dewsbury home.
Her emotional state was affected, and she was left feeling upset and depressed.
Miss Lister stated, 'She said she was made to feel as if she'd let the defendant down as she's his mother but she's scared of him.
He makes her feel worthless as his mum, which has caused her a lot of upset.
It's clear he's tried to maximize her fear and distress over a long period, abusing the trust expected within family relationships.' It was also revealed that Sharp had previously received a harassment warning in 2013 due to similar behavior but failed to comply.
His mitigation, Arsad Khan, expressed that Sharp regretted his actions and was acting out of desperation to fund his cannabis use.
The court was told that his problems began after his marriage ended, leading to increased cannabis consumption, which relied heavily on his mother's support.
Magistrates sentenced Sharp to a 12-month community order, including participation in a Thinking Skills Programme targeting his behavior and 150 hours of unpaid work.
A two-year restraining order was also issued, banning him from contacting or approaching his mother or her residence.
Additionally, Sharp was ordered to pay court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £85.
The judge acknowledged his remorse but emphasized the breach of trust involved in abusing familial bonds through persistent harassment and threats.
