MAN CONVICTED OF STALKING FORMER EMPLOYEE OVER FIVE-YEAR PERIOD
A man has been found guilty of stalking a former employee over a period of five years.Andrew Hodgson, residing on Borders Lane in Etchingham, admitted to engaging in stalking behaviors that caused fear of violence or serious distress at Brighton Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, 23 July.
His sentencing is scheduled for 28 September.
This conviction results from an investigation into allegations that a woman was subjected to persistent unwanted contact from 2021 to 2026.
Hodgson continuously reached out to the woman through emails and text messages, engraved her name on a plaque displayed at his residence, and sent her gifts, including flowers.
Many of these messages had lewd content and were sent late at night.
The victim reported the harassment to police on 24 April.
Hodgson was arrested on the same day and subsequently released on bail.
Despite being on bail, Hodgson persisted with his stalking behavior.
He was re-arrested on 22 July, charged, and kept in custody overnight.
He appeared before Brighton Magistrates' Court the next day and pleaded guilty to the charges.