STALKER WHO MOVED ROUND THE CORNER TO A BUSINESSWOMAN HE MET ON HINGE AND IMITATED HER LIFE BY BUYING THE SAME DOG AND CAR IS JAILED
A man who harassed a woman he connected with on a dating platform by going to great lengths to mimic her lifestyle has been sentenced to 20 months in prison.Martin Gunn, aged 51, moved into a nearby residence, acquired the same breed of dog and car as his victim, and even attempted to join the same gym, a court was told.
The court heard that Gunn met the woman in March of the previous year via the Hinge app, and after a few dates, he began to stalk her.
The victim, a businesswoman from Windsor in Berkshire, had made it clear she only wished to remain friends, but Gunn persisted.
He relocated to the next street, bought the same dog and vehicle, and sought gym membership near her, despite her objections.
After living in another part of town for eight years, he moved close to her home and contacted her via text, assuring her not to worry, claiming he was not a stalker.
Gunn also left flowers on her doorstep and purchased tickets to a Chelsea football match for her.
When he informed her he would be joining her gym, she pleaded with the management to prevent his registration.
Although he was rejected, he was frequently seen loitering outside the facility.
In November, the victim bought a black Mercedes E-class, and Gunn bought the same model within the same month, increasing her concerns.
His continued behavior, including driving past her residence, attempting to communicate through letters, and repeatedly bothering her, led her to contact police.
Following his arrest, Gunn was released on bail under conditions of no contact.
Nonetheless, he was caught filming her from his home and approached her at a local café.
Despite being in a new relationship, he breached his bail terms by texting her on Valentine’s Day.
This led to his charge of stalking, involving fear of violence, covering the period from August to February.
Gunn has been detained for over five months.
Initially pleading guilty, he later attempted to change his plea, claiming he received poor legal advice.
During a previous hearing, Judge Jane Rowley highlighted that a pre-sentence report indicated issues with his thinking.
She stated that although Gunn was trying to downplay his actions, he likely knew they were wrong.
The judge emphasized that no reasonable judge would grant him bail and imposed a 20-month prison sentence with a seven-year restraining order.
