Chesterfield man scared his former partner by stalking her

A Chesterfield man who scared his former partner by sending text and phone calls, as well as turning up at the home they had shared, has been given unpaid work.
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Lewis James Fearn had been in a five-year relationship with the woman, which had come to an end in December, Chesterfield Magistrates’ Court was told on Tuesday, September 15.

He had then started bombarding her with messages and phone calls, to the extent that she had become frightened of him, and turned up at the home they had shared, said Robert Carr, prosecuting.

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He told the court: “The complainant has two children with the defendant - a two-year-old and a four-year-old - from the relationship which came to an end in December.

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“There had been unwanted contact since then with the defendant texting her and phoning her constantly and she had to block his number from her WhatsApp account.

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“On May 31 the victim was with her brother and friend at her home address and he came to the house and started whistling the victim’s dog. They told him the police were being called and he left.”

Fearn, 25, of Gorse Valley Road, Hasland, Chesterfield, admitted stalking which caused serious harm or distress when he appeared before the court.

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Mitigating, John Wilford said: “On one occasion he called when the police were at the property and they were able to see the call. He recognises that the relationship is now over and he’s going to go about contacting her in the appropriate way to arrange contact with their children.

“He doesn’t know where the victim lives because she has moved from the property. He was arrested on May 22 and there has been no further contact since then.”

Fearn was given a 12-month community order to include 15 rehabilitation activity days and 120 hours of unpaid work.

He was ordered to pay £100 in compensation, £150 in prosecution costs and a £95 victim surcharge. District Judge Andrew Davison also issued a two-year restraining order.

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Sentencing, he said: “It’s always sad when a relationship breaks down, especially when there are young children involved, but you took it too far and she became frightened.”

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