stalker jailed after subjecting victim to 'frightening' ordeal

STALKER JAILED AFTER SUBJECTING VICTIM TO 'FRIGHTENING' ORDEAL

A man from Wisbech, Darren Hodgkinson, aged 53, engaged in a stalking campaign against a woman on Park Avenue between December 10, 2021, and January 4, 2022.

During this period, he wrote notes on cardboard sourced from her rubbish bin and then posted them through her letterbox.

Hodgkinson admitted to the harassment at Peterborough Crown Court on March 29 and was subsequently sentenced to two and a half years in prison.

Detective Constable Jon Edwards of Cambridgeshire Police described the victim’s experience as "frightening".

Hodgkinson, from New Drove in Wisbech, believed his target to be a prison guard named Jackie and visited her residence six times despite being told he had the wrong address and to leave.

On January 4, police officers from Cambridgeshire detained Hodgkinson at the scene.

In an interview, he explained that he had repeatedly returned to the address aiming to apologize for the mistaken identity.

The court imposed an indefinite restraining order alongside his prison sentence.

DC Edwards commented: "Hodgkinson continued to turn up at the victim’s home, despite being told numerous times not to come.

His behaviour was frightening and caused her to change their daily lifestyle.

I hope the conclusion of the court process will help her to move on with life without this harassment.

"We’re dedicated to helping victims of stalking, and I’d encourage anyone who has been subjected to offences like this to come forward."