Trowbridge man handed 20 month jail sentence for stalking

Simon Anteney created fake email accounts to contact his victim

Author: Aaron HarperPublished 5th Jun 2024

A man from Trowbridge will spend almost two years behind bars for stalking offences.

Simon Anteney, 35, of Yarnbrook Gardens, bombarded his victim with messages, gifts, visits to her home and place of work, and set up fake email accounts to contact her.

Anteney was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court having pled guilty at a hearing in November 2023.

He's been ordered to take part in an accredited programme for 28 Days, up to 20 days of rehabilitation activity, to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work, and given a five year restraining order.

Local Criminal Investigator Dawson said "I commend the victim in this case for their bravery in coming forward and her strength throughout our investigation.

"Stalking is a crime which has a profound effect on those experiencing it. This is something Wiltshire Police take seriously and we will respond robustly to reports of fixated, obsessive, unwanted and repeated behaviour which intrusively impacts upon people's lives.

"If members of the public think that they might be experiencing stalking I would encourage them to report it to the police so that positive action can be taken. Support and advice is also available from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust's National Stalking Helpline on 0808 802 0300."

Wiltshire Police define stalking as a pattern of targeted behaviour which is fixated, obsessive unwanted and repeated in its nature.

Stalking may include:

  • Contacting someone by any means
  • Regularly following someone
  • Repeatedly going uninvited to their home
  • Checking someone’s internet use, email or other electronic communication
  • Hanging around somewhere they know the person often visits
  • Interfering with their property
  • Watching or spying on someone
  • Identity theft (signing-up to services, buying things in someone's name)

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