Man jailed for almost five years after stalking woman

A man from Stoke-on-Trent who stalked a woman and sent her over 100 messages has been jailed for almost five years.

Conner Dickens, 28, of Shelton, admitted stalking involving serious alarm/distress and harassment – breaching a restraining order and was sentenced to nine-years-and-eight-months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Tuesday (21 October).

Over a two-day period in March last year, Dickens messaged the victim 135 times on social media despite having a restraining order banning him from doing so. He also messaged one of the victim’s friends more than 100 times. Dickens kept asking the victim to leave her partner to be with him, sending abusive messages aimed at the both of them.

After learning about it, we moved in and arrested him.

Dickens will serve four-years-and-eight-months in prison and serve the remaining five years on extended licence. As part of his sentencing, he was also ordered to pay £228 in costs.

PC Rhiannon Churchman, from the Stoke South local policing team, said: “We don’t underestimate the profound effect that stalking and harassment has on victims and I’m pleased that we’ve been able to secure this result for the victim in this case.

“Dickens was unrelenting in his pursuit to contact the victim, despite having a restraining order preventing him from doing so legally.

“I hope this result gives victims of stalking some comfort that we will continue to act robustly against those responsible for these damaging offences.”