STALKER WHO PITCHED TENT NEAR TERRIFIED WOMAN'S HOME LEFT HER FEELING CONSTANTLY WATCHED
A man who pitched a tent in his mother's garden near a woman's house caused her to feel under constant surveillance.Ashley Hope, residing in Ashington, began stalking a woman living nearby while living in a tent on his mother's property.
Hope frequently knocked on her door multiple times daily, attempted contact through offering items, and set up various Facebook accounts to reach her.
The woman, frightened by his behavior, moved out temporarily and started on antidepressant medication.
On Wednesday, Hope, who had no permanent address, appeared via video link from HMP Durham at Newcastle Moot Hall to be sentenced for his stalking offense.
He was 41 years old and had pleaded guilty.
The offending took place between April 2025 and February 5 of this year.
It was reported to the court that Hope was residing in a tent in his mother's garden in Ashington, close to the home of a woman with whom she shared her child.
He then began to stalk this single mother.
Rachel Kelly, prosecuting, said: "He began waiting outside her address and waiting for her to leave the house.
She told the defendant to leave her alone.
"The defendant would knock on her door several times a day and would also bring her items, which she refused.
He also attended her house and accused her of being in a relationship with a man who was conducting work on her property." Hope would continue hanging around outside her home, and the court heard the victim felt like he was "watching everything she did and knew her routine".
Hope also created eight Facebook accounts and tried to add her as a friend on all of them.
Ms Kelly said that the woman resorted to parking her car in different locations so Hope wouldn't know she was home.
He was then arrested and bailed, but continued to stalk her.
Ms Kelly added: "The defendant also pitched a tent in a field near her home." Hope was then arrested again and remanded into custody.
In a victim statement, the woman said she no longer feels safe and is "scared to go outside".
She said: "I made it clear I wanted him to leave me alone." The court heard Hope had 63 previous convictions for 146 offences, including harassment and breach of restraining orders.
Penny Hall, defending, said he had been on remand for around four months and had "got his head right" in that time.
She added: "He's taken advantage of the help [on remand] and he hopes to progress that in the community." Recorder Brian Whitehead sentenced Hope to four months prison.
Due to time already served, he will be released immediately.
