A stalker whose campaign of harassment included sending takeaway meals to his ex’s home will be sentenced next week.
Thomas West, 31, had pleaded guilty to stalking his partner of three months – but entered a basis of plea that was not accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service.
At Oxford Crown Court on Wednesday morning, Judge Ian Pringle QC decided that a Newton Hearing – where a judge would decide the facts on which to sentence after hearing from the defendant and victim – was not necessary.
He discussed with West’s barrister the Sentencing Council’s guidelines for stalking and agreed the case fell into the middle bracket – 2B.
The charges laid at the magistrates court set out that West sent numerous threatening text, social media and voicemail messages to his ex, ordered takeaway meals to her address, posted two notes through her letterbox and sent her four sexually-explicit videos, and sent an Instagram follow request.
In his basis of plea he said that he did not contact his partner between late August and mid-November, as he was recalled to prison on an unrelated driving matter.
Judge Pringle remanded West, formerly of Sydenham Road, Sydenham, in custody until March 24, when he will be sentenced.
Alice Aubrey-Fletcher appeared for the Crown Prosecution Service. The defendant, who was not present at the hearing, was represented by Robert Lindsey.
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