LISTEN: Ayr woman speaks out to mark National Stalking Awareness Week
It was the most terrifying experience of my life - that from an Ayr woman who was stalked by a stranger for more than 2 years.
It was the most terrifying experience of my life - that from an Ayr woman who was stalked by a stranger for more than 2 years.
Ann Moulds is speaking out to mark National Stalking Awareness week.
She turned her experience into something positive by waving her anonimity and was instrumental in getting stalking recognised as a crime in Scotland - previously it was categorised as a Breach of the Peace.
In March 2009, Ann Moulds launched Action Scotland Against Stalking and waved her anonymity to speak out publically about her terrible experience of being the victim of a long and horrendous stalking campaign when her stalker escaped jail with a lenient sentence.
To gain a sense of safety she was forced to relocate over 80 miles away and in doing so she lost her business, her home and left behind her friends and family, while her stalker continued to live his life as before and freely walk the streets where she once lived.
Her case was classed as one of the worst recorded in Scotland. Her experience served to highlight how she was placed in ever increasing danger, not just through the escalating behaviour of a stalker, but through the lack of training and coordinated response by the legal authorities and victim support organisations.
She spoke to our reporter Gary Armstrong...
A spokesperson for Ayrshire Police Division commented: "This week is National Stalking Awareness week. Police Scotland takes allegations of stalking and harassment extremely seriously is committed to providing a robust response to reports of stalking and domestic abuse."
"Our officers are trained to ensure that vulnerable individuals receive the support and protection they deserve when faced with the trauma of Stalking and we will use all available means at our disposal to pursue the perpetrators."
Help is available - to report an incident or for information and advice contact Police Scotland on 101 (always dial 999 in an emergency). The National Stalking Helpline can also be contacted on 0808 802 0300.
if you think you are being stalked:
Please tell the police, friends, family and colleagues and make sure you get advice as soon as possible. Keep a diary and keep any texts or messages as evidence Take care not to post too much information on your social networking sites. Private message or text your friends instead
For further information visit Stalking exists in many forms