8 years for serial stalker of 60 women!

8 YEARS FOR SERIAL STALKER OF 60 WOMEN!

A stalker who carried on terrorising women from behind bars was jailed for eight years yesterday.

Mark Brown, 30, preyed on up to 60 women, some in Scotland, threatening to rape and murder them and bombarding them with vile texts and phone calls.

The farmworker, who spent thousands on his four mobile phones in just seven months, was finally trapped when a victim contacted police.

A trawl of phone records turned up scores of other victims, who he chose from newspaper ads.

Brown, from Kent, was held in custody while awaiting trial.

But he continued his campaign of terror, Detective Sergeant Darren Rawlings said after the hearing.

Mr Rawlings, who led the inquiry, said: 'When guards stopped him using his phone card, he just stole other inmates' cards instead to try to intimidate witnesses.' Brown denied all the charges of harassment and threats, but the jury at Winchester Crown Court convicted him.

Judge Patrick Hooton said: 'This was grievous bodily harm of the mind - a spiteful, vindictive campaign.

It could not have been worse if you had physically attacked them.' The judge, who was told Brown's victims ranged in age from teenagers to women in their forties, also banned Brown from owning a mobile or contacting any of his victims again.

Mr Rawlings said he believed Brown was Britain's worst stalker, adding: 'He was abusive to women across the country from Kent to Scotland.

He is a social outcast motivated by his ability to cause fear, panic and disruption.'