Stourbridge man charged with breaching Stalking Prevention Order
A Stourbridge man has been charged with breaching a Stalking Prevention Order – after it is alleged he set up fake social media profiles to harass his ex-partner.
The 25-year-old man is accused of contacting the woman on Instagram with messages of a sexual nature.
He had been banned from contacting her, and told to stay at least 100 metres from her home and work – under the terms of an interim Stalking Prevention Order (SPO), which West Midlands Police secured last month.
It was the first SPO the force had obtained after new legislation came into force earlier this year.
The unnamed man has been charged with breaching the SPO and was due to appear at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court on Monday.
West Midlands Police has also secured their second interim SPO at Birmingham Magistrates Court, against an Erdington man accused of harassing his ex-partner. It bans the 38-year-old – who police are investigating over domestic abuse allegations – from contacting the woman and also bans from large parts of Erdington.
He’s already remanded in prison for breaching his bail conditions but will be bound by the SPO upon his release on June 4.
Inspector Cate Webb-Jones, said: “SPOs allow us to block alleged perpetrators from contacting people or approaching their accusers, and stipulate they engage in addiction or mental health programmes, while a criminal investigation is carried out.
“Stalking cases are often complex and involve an extensive analysis of digital evidence; they can take a long time to review and bring charges.
“But SPOs put immediate restrictions on a suspect’s behaviour while that investigation is carried out – they provide extra protection for victims at an early stage.
“We will do all we can to safeguard vulnerable victims and the new SPOs give us additional safeguarding powers.”
