North East Lincolnshire women speak out about stalking to help others

A North East Lincolnshire woman, who had six pizzas delivered to her home in one night by her abuser, is speaking out in hopes of helping others facing similar abuse. The unwanted deliveries were part of a series of harassment by her ex-partner.

In the past year, North East Lincolnshire has seen 5,300 reported cases of violence against women and girls. A growing number of these incidents involve stalking, highlighting the increasing prevalence of this form of abuse in the area.

Jane said that her ex-husband drove past her house at all times of the day and night. She said that if it wasn’t him driving past, it was a take-away or a taxi turning up to her house late at night that he had ordered.

“It feels like little things each time and when you tell someone an isolated experience, they may not think it’s that much of a big deal, but when this is happening every single day, it starts to become a problem. I can’t even prove it’s undeniably my ex ringing the taxis and ordering the take away’s, but there wouldn’t be anyone else who would do this to me.”

This is echoed in Emma’s story, who couldn’t understand how her ex-boyfriend seemed to know where she was at all times.

Emma explained he seemed to turn up wherever she was, she had turned off all location sharing on both her phone and her children’s phones. She had mechanics check her car for trackers and regularly changed her routine. But he still managed to figure out where she was.

Her friends tried to tell her that North East Lincolnshire is such a small place that it may have been a coincidence, but Emma’s gut feeling was that it was something more sinister.

Emma took her phone to the provider who was able to go through each app. This found a false parcel tracking link that had been emailed to Emma and had downloaded a hidden app that shared her location.

With the hidden app deleted, Emma found that her ex was no longer showing up whenever she left the house.

Emma said

“Women’s Aid have been amazing, I couldn’t have done this without them. There were times when I felt like I was going crazy, I feel so much safer now and it’s all thanks to Women’s Aid believing me.

Cllr Stan Shreeve, North East Lincolnshire Council’s Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Health, Wellbeing, and Adult Social Care said:

“Women’s Aid work so hard to support our vulnerable. They do outstanding work supporting and advising those at some of their most difficult times.”