An Eden Valley man left his former partner anxious and scared as he stalked her during the course of three months.
Craig Wilkinson (28) had separated from his girlfriend of around nine years in the spring of 2022.
She had told police it ended due to “a decline in his mental health and associated behaviour”, prosecutor Nick Turner told Carlisle magistrates.
The woman initially reported problems with unwanted phone calls and social media contact, along with him turning up at her home and work addresses.
A crime report was filed and it was initially decided that no further action would be taken.
“She has then reported there have been further incidents of unwanted contact,” said Mr Turner. Screenshots of messages sent by Wilkinson to her and other people had been logged.
“The messages didn’t make any threats, it is fair to say,” Mr Turner told the court.
But there had been a marked impact on the woman, who had provided an impact statement. “She was anxious and worried about him coming to her place of work,” said the prosecutor.
She parked her vehicle further away from the work place while colleagues also used theirs to try and shield it from view.
She constantly watched car number plates in case Wilkinson was following her and feared receiving new Facebook friend requests in case it was him trying to get in touch.
“She thought she could deal with it,” said Mr Turner of her response to initial incidents. “Then his behaviour got more aggressive.”
He added: “She started to fear he was getting unpredictable. She was scared he would hurt her.”
Wilkinson, of Meadow Close, Lazonby, admitted stalking the woman, causing serious alarm or distress, between 1st January and 4th March this year.
Defence lawyer Andrew Gurney outlined trauma in Wilkinson’s past and his significantly deteriorating mental health towards the end of the relationship.
“It is quite right that none of these were threats,” said Mr Gurney of the offending messages. “He understands he would have been a nuisance and that this would have upset his ex-partner.”
Wilkinson believed that work recommended by the probation service in a pre-sentence report would assist him.
District Judge John Temperley agreed and concluded there was an alternative to a prison sentence.
He imposed a 12-month community order. Wilkinson must complete a six-month mental health treatment course, rehabilitation work with a probation officer and pay a £200 fine. He was also banned from having contact with the woman.
“I want to stress the seriousness of what you have done over that period of time and the significant impact it has had on your former partner,” the judge told Wilkinson. “And the importance of complying with the (community) order.”
