Boy given Stalking Protection Order after stalking family for four years

A 16-year-old boy from Shepperton has been given a two-year Stalking Protection Order (SPO) following an investigation into the relentless stalking of a woman and her family.

The boy began a stalking campaign against the woman, who was known to him, in December 2018. Initially, he would turn up at her door unannounced, but over the course of a year he progressed to calling her and her family members constantly, sometimes making up to 130 calls a day.

During the calls, he would threaten to throw acid in her face and hurt her family members.

Over time, the intensity of the stalking worsened further, and he would bombard the woman with unwanted taxis and takeaways. On two occasions, he sent undertakers to her home to collect the bodies of herself and her family members.

The boy was sentenced at Guildford Youth Court on 1 June where he was given a 12-month Youth Referral Order and a two-year Stalking Protection Order, which prevents him from contacting the woman and several of her family members.

Surrey Police regularly applies for Stalking Protection Orders to safeguard victims of stalking and rehabilitate offenders, with the first SPO issued by the Force within a week of its introduction in January 2020.

SPOs give officers the power to sanction and monitor perpetrators both online and offline, which can be hugely effective in protecting victims early on in stalking investigations. In some cases, they also require the perpetrator to attend programmes aimed at addressing obsessive behaviour which often leads to stalking.

Commending the victim, Police Constable Daniel Bell from the Runnymede Neighbourhood Policing Team who investigated the case, said: “I would like to recognise the bravery of the victim and her family during what has been an extremely tough and distressing time for them all.

“No one should ever have to live their life in fear or constantly watch over their shoulder like this victim did. If you, or someone you know has been the victim of stalking, please contact us. We have specialist teams and prevention powers to safeguard you and hold the perpetrator to account.”

For more information about stalking or harassment, including how to report it and where to find support, click here.