Mother reveals terror as ex-husband's stalking leaves her scared to leave home
'Abi' was supported through her ordeal by Wiltshire domestic abuse charity, FearFree
The mother of a young child has revealed to Greatest Hits Radio how her ex-husband's terrifying campaign of stalking left her frightened to leave her home.
The names of those involved have been changed to protect those involved.
'Abi' had suffered years of violence at the hands of her ex-husband 'Dave' when she finally left the relationship in the hope of a better future.
Dave was given a non-molestation order, meaning he was forbidden from contacting Abi or their child.
But, unable to accept the end of their relationship, he began stalking his ex-wife.
She told us it began with Dave turning up at places where Abi was, such as the shops, hairdressers or the dentist. Sometimes she'd spot him walking past her house.
To begin with she wondered if it was just a coincidence as they lived in the same village, but it happened so often she knew something was wrong.
She contacted the police who recorded the incidents. When questioned on his actions, Dave's justification was that he was buying something from the shops or making an appointment.
But his stalking continued and escalated.
He stood outside Abi's home for hours on end, smeared dog waste on her car and made nuisance calls day and night.
The ordeal left Abi in despair with her mental health suffering. Scared, she felt there was no way out.
The Police referred Abi to Wiltshire Domestic Abuse charity FearFree. After speaking to one of their Support Workers, Abi felt she was being heard for the first time.
The charity helped get Abi to safety by working with the local council to find her a new home in a new village, where they installed a ring doorbell and security lighting to give her extra peace of mind.
And through liaising with the police on Abi's behalf, Dave's actions were labelled as stalking rather than harassment, leading to him being charged with an offence.
A year-on from her ordeal, Abi told us she still feels anxious at times, but is positive about the future.
She's happy to be able to play in the garden with her child after a year of being too scared to leave her home.