0:00:02 > 0:00:07This programme contains some strong language
0:00:07 > 0:00:08- WOMAN:- Hello, Paladin?
0:00:08 > 0:00:11- WOMAN:- Hi, um, I just wanted to talk to someone, really?
0:00:11 > 0:00:13- Yes, are you experiencing stalking at the moment?- Yes.
0:00:13 > 0:00:14OK, we're a high-risk service,
0:00:14 > 0:00:18so what I'll do is I'll just get some information from you...
0:00:23 > 0:00:27He was turning up everywhere that we went, he was threatening us.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29We were absolutely petrified.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34- WOMAN, CRYING:- I've started getting death threats,
0:00:34 > 0:00:37I just don't feel safe. I want my life back.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41There's an invisible and invasive crime
0:00:41 > 0:00:44that's destroying people's lives.
0:00:44 > 0:00:45Sorry...
0:00:45 > 0:00:47The police might term it as "harassment".
0:00:47 > 0:00:49We'd use the word "stalking".
0:00:49 > 0:00:51This film follows Paladin,
0:00:51 > 0:00:53a national, independent charity
0:00:53 > 0:00:56which fights to protect victims of stalking...
0:00:56 > 0:00:59- WOMAN:- I get, like, 40 missed calls a day...- Oh, my God...
0:00:59 > 0:01:01..the stalking became, like, a control.
0:01:01 > 0:01:07..and three people who live in fear every day of their lives...
0:01:07 > 0:01:09I am just walking and she's coming.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12..and their journey through the criminal justice system
0:01:12 > 0:01:14that often fails them.
0:01:16 > 0:01:20I know if I stay in my current address,
0:01:20 > 0:01:22I'm going to end up dead.
0:01:22 > 0:01:23I'm sick of it, Melissa!
0:01:23 > 0:01:25I know you are. I've told the police.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28They're supposed to help you, aren't they?
0:01:28 > 0:01:31- WOMAN:- Any part of happiness that's supposed to be in our lives
0:01:31 > 0:01:33has literally been torn away.
0:01:33 > 0:01:34- MAN:- I just wonder when it's going to end.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37It will be quicker if I get hit by a bus. Then it will stop.
0:01:41 > 0:01:42Are you OK?
0:01:42 > 0:01:45- WOMAN SOBS:- I'm just... I'm just so worried.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01PHONE RINGS
0:02:01 > 0:02:02Good afternoon, Paladin?
0:02:02 > 0:02:05Yeah, I'm a caseworker, bear with me one moment,
0:02:05 > 0:02:07I'll just get up a document.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09So, we support clients that we think
0:02:09 > 0:02:12are at high risk of serious harm or even homicide.
0:02:12 > 0:02:14OK. Are you safe speaking on the phone
0:02:14 > 0:02:17that you've called from, is it the same phone?
0:02:17 > 0:02:20A 2017 government report into stalking
0:02:20 > 0:02:22has revealed nationwide failings
0:02:22 > 0:02:25in the way police and the Crown Prosecution Service
0:02:25 > 0:02:28respond to stalking allegations and offences.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32He's said to you, "I'm going to shoot you and your husband"?
0:02:32 > 0:02:34OK, so you've reported it to the police?
0:02:35 > 0:02:39No police forces in the UK have dedicated stalking units.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43We've got a plan of action. It's a very long list...
0:02:43 > 0:02:46Set up four years ago and staffed by a specialist team
0:02:46 > 0:02:48of domestic-abuse caseworkers,
0:02:48 > 0:02:50and former police and probation staff,
0:02:50 > 0:02:54Paladin advises victims on gathering evidence
0:02:54 > 0:02:57and lobbies the police to take action.
0:02:57 > 0:02:58They can log it and report it.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01They know when risk is not identified,
0:03:01 > 0:03:03stalking can lead to murder.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07The restraining order is not robust enough,
0:03:07 > 0:03:10this is really not going to protect him at all.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13We work with the emergency services to make them aware of the risks,
0:03:13 > 0:03:16sometimes police are not aware of the risks.
0:03:16 > 0:03:17So, we try to put in advice,
0:03:17 > 0:03:21safety planning, liaising with multi agencies.
0:03:22 > 0:03:23If we all work together,
0:03:23 > 0:03:26we CAN make that difference, we can save lives.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31You got a mouse, a dead mouse, through the post?
0:03:31 > 0:03:33Yeah, horrible.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37All right, I've got the picture now of the mouse up on my screen.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41Alison has been trying to get the police to take action
0:03:41 > 0:03:44on her victim Carly's case for the last two years.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48- CARLY:- I saw a brown package with my name on it,
0:03:48 > 0:03:50and I saw a little speck of blood
0:03:50 > 0:03:53and so I just gently opened the top,
0:03:53 > 0:03:57and saw it and screamed and threw it down.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00- It must have been really frightening.- It was horrible.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03Yeah, absolutely.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06It's like she's stepping up the ante and she's escalating.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09- Yeah, Alex swears it's her handwriting...- Oh, really?
0:04:09 > 0:04:12One in five women, and one in ten men
0:04:12 > 0:04:15will experience stalking at some point in their lives.
0:04:15 > 0:04:19The background to this case is that my victim, Carly,
0:04:19 > 0:04:21is going out with Alex - that's her boyfriend -
0:04:21 > 0:04:25and Alex's ex-girlfriend is the stalker,
0:04:25 > 0:04:28so it's a revenge-stalking case.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31She's got this real vengeance and grievance
0:04:31 > 0:04:33about him having a new girlfriend.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35I mean, she unable to move on.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38Two years later, she's unable to move on.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47Since she's been stalking me when something happens,
0:04:47 > 0:04:50my whole body trembles with fear and anxiety.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55I've never met her, I've never spoken to her.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59She can't get over her ex, which is my partner.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02It's ever since she found out that we were dating,
0:05:02 > 0:05:04I've been targeted.
0:05:05 > 0:05:0830-year-old Carly and her boyfriend, Alex,
0:05:08 > 0:05:12have been a couple for two years and recently bought a house.
0:05:14 > 0:05:15We moved a few months ago,
0:05:15 > 0:05:19because we were being stalked and we wanted to live in peace.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23We've done everything we can to keep our address secret,
0:05:23 > 0:05:26but it was just a waste of time cos she found us anyway.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29Carly had this gut feeling that something was coming,
0:05:29 > 0:05:31she'd been saying for days,
0:05:31 > 0:05:33"Something's coming, I can feel it. I know it."
0:05:40 > 0:05:43We knew instantly who would do that.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46I called the police to report it.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54You know, everything so far, it's been a game of cat-and-mouse,
0:05:54 > 0:05:58I think the only way it can be taken is they're the cat, we're the mouse,
0:05:58 > 0:06:00Carly, in particular, is the mouse,
0:06:00 > 0:06:02and the fact it's dead...
0:06:02 > 0:06:04Is that a death threat?
0:06:06 > 0:06:09I don't think the police are taking it seriously
0:06:09 > 0:06:11like what measures are being put in place to protect me now?
0:06:11 > 0:06:13I don't have a panic alarm,
0:06:13 > 0:06:17I have cameras up that I've put up myself, that they didn't provide,
0:06:17 > 0:06:20I'm having to protect myself and nobody's listening.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23You're quite concerned about the escalation?
0:06:25 > 0:06:27I am really frustrated
0:06:27 > 0:06:30because the response from police is minimal -
0:06:30 > 0:06:32she's probably close on, I don't know,
0:06:32 > 0:06:35whether it would be 60 reports to police.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38It feels like it's not sitting at the right level now.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42We need to address that and bring it to their attention,
0:06:42 > 0:06:44perhaps a bit more carefully.
0:06:44 > 0:06:48And if we've seen a comparable pattern of behaviour
0:06:48 > 0:06:52- in a case which ended in a multiple stabbing...- The Helen Pearson case.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54Then we can't ignore that, that has to be taken into account.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57Next steps is about really working with police in terms of
0:06:57 > 0:06:58what they're going to do.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01Are they going to arrest her? What's going to happen next?
0:07:01 > 0:07:04- Thanks a lot. - All right, no problem.- OK.
0:07:12 > 0:07:16The dead mouse is the latest in a sustained stalking campaign
0:07:16 > 0:07:19preying on Carly's passion in life - cats.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25All the cards I've received from her, anonymous cards,
0:07:25 > 0:07:29they've been a big cat staring at a little goldfish -
0:07:29 > 0:07:32her being the big cat and I'm being the little goldfish
0:07:32 > 0:07:35or the little mouse that she's, like, hunting.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38We've sealed our letterbox up,
0:07:38 > 0:07:41cos we were worried that she was going to poison my cat.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43A couple of weekends ago,
0:07:43 > 0:07:46we woke up to a neighbour knocking on our door just saying
0:07:46 > 0:07:49someone had thrown paint over my van.
0:07:49 > 0:07:50It's a cat charity,
0:07:50 > 0:07:53we save cats, we rescue cats.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57Carly has received messages which show the stalker
0:07:57 > 0:08:00has investigated every aspect of her life.
0:08:00 > 0:08:04It says, "Hey, cat lady, you disgusting human being,
0:08:04 > 0:08:07"you are ugly, inside and out, desperate, immoral,
0:08:07 > 0:08:12"had their own mother abandon them, probably can't blame her..."
0:08:13 > 0:08:16She slates me about not being brought up by a mother
0:08:16 > 0:08:18and how I'm not a good enough person
0:08:18 > 0:08:20because I've never had a mother's love
0:08:20 > 0:08:22and that's quite a nasty thing to say.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26"PS - Carly, if you have a deposit for a house
0:08:26 > 0:08:28"you have money for your nicotine-stained hair,
0:08:28 > 0:08:31"you scabby dog." Kisses.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37She has targeted my nan,
0:08:37 > 0:08:39my grandad, my dad, my stepmum,
0:08:39 > 0:08:41my sister, my two best friends.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45She's never going to leave me alone,
0:08:45 > 0:08:47it's never going to stop.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53I hate the fact that someone hates me so much
0:08:53 > 0:08:55that she wants to ruin my life.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12- PHONE RINGS - Good morning, Paladin?
0:09:12 > 0:09:14Good morning, it's Imre Marton speaking.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18Hello, Imre, I understand that you've experienced stalking,
0:09:18 > 0:09:21the perpetrator is due for release on Thursday. Is that correct?
0:09:21 > 0:09:22Yeah, that's correct.
0:09:24 > 0:09:29The police called me and they told me she still wants to harm me.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33I was told she wants to still kill me.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36So, bear with me, Imre, is that correct that the police said
0:09:36 > 0:09:40- she still wants to harm you, she still wants to kill you?- Yes.
0:09:43 > 0:09:4531-year-old Imre Marton
0:09:45 > 0:09:48has been stalked for the last four years
0:09:48 > 0:09:49by a complete stranger.
0:09:51 > 0:09:56She told me how we should be together. She said she's in love.
0:09:56 > 0:10:00OK. Do you think she believes she is in a relationship with you?
0:10:00 > 0:10:03Yes, but she's just a stranger.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08At the beginning, she did not even know my name.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12She just came up with a name.
0:10:12 > 0:10:13She called me George.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21OK, are you very frightened?
0:10:23 > 0:10:25Yes. Yes, I am.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39Imre's long-term stalker
0:10:39 > 0:10:41has been in prison for harassment,
0:10:41 > 0:10:43but she's being released in three days.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46- Hello! My favourite bus driver. - Hello, how are you?
0:10:46 > 0:10:48Hello, how are you?
0:10:48 > 0:10:53At first, Imre thought his stalker was just another passenger.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57I saw her on the bus, she travelled a lot.
0:10:58 > 0:11:03She started to do like round trips, travelling nowhere.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08At first, I thought that she was just a bit bored.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11Once she asked me out for a date.
0:11:11 > 0:11:16I was a bit shocked and I was really polite. I said to her,
0:11:16 > 0:11:20"I'm sorry, I'm not interested, I have a girlfriend."
0:11:23 > 0:11:27The thing is, you know, when I said "no," she start to cry.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31That was the beginning of this nightmare.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41Unemployed 22-year-old Charlie Howell's advances
0:11:41 > 0:11:43soon turned to threats.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46I'm just walking and she's coming.
0:11:49 > 0:11:50She's a dangerous girl.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55She told me that if I'm not going to be with her,
0:11:55 > 0:11:56she's going to kill me.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01She said, "I know your name, your address,
0:12:01 > 0:12:04"your number, your name, your date of birth,
0:12:04 > 0:12:06"your e-mail address, your car registration,
0:12:06 > 0:12:10"all the times and the routes of the buses."
0:12:14 > 0:12:16862?
0:12:16 > 0:12:19Good morning.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23Imre's stalker even posed as his girlfriend
0:12:23 > 0:12:26to get information about his whereabouts from his colleagues.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31We could have a couple of instances a day when it got really bad.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34It was just crazy. She was just everywhere.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36She would know where he was going to be,
0:12:36 > 0:12:37what duties he was going to be on.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41Can you remember that time at Didcot where we got the phone call
0:12:41 > 0:12:44- and she wouldn't get off the bus? - Yes.- She grabbed him once,
0:12:44 > 0:12:48he had to push her away to basically escape from her,
0:12:48 > 0:12:51left the bus of people there and ran down to the police station,
0:12:51 > 0:12:53so he must have been petrified.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59I need someone to speak to Imre's boss
0:12:59 > 0:13:02because there's no work-safety planning at the moment
0:13:02 > 0:13:05and he's riding the same bus route,
0:13:05 > 0:13:09the same car park that she's aware of, everything's the same.
0:13:09 > 0:13:14Paladin caseworker Rosie is worried for Imre's safety
0:13:14 > 0:13:16and wants to know what Thames Valley Police
0:13:16 > 0:13:19are going to do to protect him.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22I'm looking for a police officer who has taken over the case.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25I'm just trying to intercept and put some interventions in.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27I'm going to hazard a guess, she's going to go
0:13:27 > 0:13:29straight for those places that are known to her.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37Over the last four years,
0:13:37 > 0:13:41Imre has reported Charlie Howells more than 100 times
0:13:41 > 0:13:44and made 40 different witness statements.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46Instead of being charged with stalking,
0:13:46 > 0:13:49she was only served with restraining orders.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52There are a lot of statements here.
0:13:52 > 0:13:53Restraining orders,
0:13:53 > 0:13:56not to enter Oxford centre...
0:13:58 > 0:14:01Not to travel on the buses.
0:14:01 > 0:14:02Do not contact me.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07You know, she breached all of them.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09You know, in her mind,
0:14:09 > 0:14:12she truly believes I'm with her and, you know,
0:14:12 > 0:14:16doesn't understand why I'm calling the police
0:14:16 > 0:14:18and why I'm not walking with her on the street,
0:14:18 > 0:14:20why I'm running away,
0:14:20 > 0:14:23why I'm not acting like her boyfriend.
0:14:25 > 0:14:29She has serious issues, in her head.
0:14:29 > 0:14:3124/7,
0:14:31 > 0:14:32more than four years,
0:14:32 > 0:14:34all about me.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36And that is really bad.
0:14:40 > 0:14:41Charlie Howells was found guilty
0:14:41 > 0:14:44of breaching an existing restraining order
0:14:44 > 0:14:46and sent to prison for two years.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51Paladin can't understand why she's being released
0:14:51 > 0:14:53after only serving four months.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57Yesterday some information came to light.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01In prison, the perpetrator has been concocting a plan
0:15:01 > 0:15:05to harm Imre and she's actually got an accomplice on board.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08OK, that is very worrying.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10It is.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12This is literally all that he's been given,
0:15:12 > 0:15:15the police told me about their attack plan,
0:15:15 > 0:15:18plus the officer mentioned "they might stab me."
0:15:18 > 0:15:20This has only just come to light now, literally...
0:15:20 > 0:15:23Do we know if the person that she's in cahoots with,
0:15:23 > 0:15:26that she's teamed up with is now out?
0:15:26 > 0:15:27That person is already out.
0:15:29 > 0:15:30She's got an accomplice onboard,
0:15:30 > 0:15:33we don't know where this person is, where they are coming from,
0:15:33 > 0:15:37what this person looks like, we don't even know details of the plan.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39This is a very, very serious...
0:15:39 > 0:15:41Very serious situation.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47We haven't updated the last week.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49So, what I'll put is...
0:15:49 > 0:15:51How did she know my surname,
0:15:51 > 0:15:56my fake name for work, and also my Twitter account for work?
0:15:56 > 0:16:00Carly and Alex are keeping a log of the letters
0:16:00 > 0:16:02and cyber-stalking incidents.
0:16:02 > 0:16:0433... 34...
0:16:04 > 0:16:0534 pages.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08We've lost count of the number of incidents now.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14The stalker put an e-card up, and it says
0:16:14 > 0:16:17"Ladies do not start fights but they can FINISH them."
0:16:17 > 0:16:19She's tagged her mother in it,
0:16:19 > 0:16:22Diane Carter. "Yes. Yes, we can."
0:16:22 > 0:16:26They're saying we started the fight, but they're going to finish it.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28A year ago, they discovered
0:16:28 > 0:16:31their stalker's mother, Diane Carter, is also involved.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34If Diane wasn't involved,
0:16:34 > 0:16:36I don't think it would have got to this stage.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39She's the one that does all the research into our lives.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42They probably feed each other information,
0:16:42 > 0:16:44it probably gets them angry
0:16:44 > 0:16:47and then they start plotting what they're going to do next.
0:16:47 > 0:16:51Diane Carter has been convicted of harassment
0:16:51 > 0:16:53and is subject to a restraining order.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57But this hasn't stopped malicious posts on Facebook.
0:16:58 > 0:17:03It makes my heart pound whenever I see something on their Facebook.
0:17:03 > 0:17:07I know some people will say, "Why are you looking?"
0:17:07 > 0:17:09Well, it's actually Paladin have advised me to look
0:17:09 > 0:17:12because it puts the case together quite well
0:17:12 > 0:17:15and it gets more evidence against them
0:17:15 > 0:17:17because they regularly rant about us on there.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20There you go, next event?
0:17:20 > 0:17:22So, he's talking about your daughter?
0:17:25 > 0:17:30Just looking at one of the perpetrators' Facebook page.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34Carly's stalker is 29-year-old Poppy Carter.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39She's also the mother of Alex's son, who he's only met once.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41They broke up before he was born.
0:17:43 > 0:17:47She continually uses her little boy
0:17:47 > 0:17:49to make her look like, you know,
0:17:49 > 0:17:52just a mum, just your everyday mum.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56So, you go from your innocent child
0:17:56 > 0:18:00who is sitting on the kitchen work surface, that's really lovely,
0:18:00 > 0:18:03and then right underneath, you go straight to
0:18:03 > 0:18:04"Never kick me when I'm down,
0:18:04 > 0:18:07"because when I get back up, you're fucked."
0:18:07 > 0:18:09Which is a direct threat to the victim.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14And then, we've got the mum, Diane...
0:18:16 > 0:18:17..in the mix, as well.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19"Suck it up, bitch."
0:18:19 > 0:18:22Yes, they're doing it in the indirect sense,
0:18:22 > 0:18:25so the messages don't say their names on them,
0:18:25 > 0:18:26so they are trying to be clever,
0:18:26 > 0:18:29but then we know that the cat thing is always directed to Carly
0:18:29 > 0:18:31because she works with cats.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34You know, I hope that the police have seen this.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38I think I'll just check with them that they have
0:18:38 > 0:18:43because it's very obvious who this is directed at.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54In Oxford, Imre's stalker is out of prison,
0:18:54 > 0:18:57and he's been told she has a plan to stab him.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02The police were here yesterday.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04They know she's a threat.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09They are going to patrol this place, check in on me...
0:19:09 > 0:19:15And the officers mentioned the knife attack is the most popular way.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17That's it.
0:19:19 > 0:19:25So, if I put a big coat on, you know, it's still not comfy, but...
0:19:28 > 0:19:31..I think it's much better to have this than pulling out a knife
0:19:31 > 0:19:33from your stomach, you know?
0:19:38 > 0:19:41She's going to have a curfew at night
0:19:41 > 0:19:45regular reporting to staff during the day.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48Charlie Howells has been released to a bail hostel
0:19:48 > 0:19:51180 miles away in Lancashire.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54She is on licence. So, obviously, she'll have conditions.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57It would be good to know what those conditions are
0:19:57 > 0:19:59and perhaps we can put some recommendations in,
0:19:59 > 0:20:02so, thus, she will be managed by probation.
0:20:02 > 0:20:04If we can map out how long it will take her
0:20:04 > 0:20:07to get from where she is now to where he is now.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09Yes, he's still in Oxford.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11My concerns are with this that either she's either going to go
0:20:11 > 0:20:13straight around there and cause him serious harm
0:20:13 > 0:20:17or just continue stalking him at that level, if not escalate it.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20The reason why I think that this could escalate
0:20:20 > 0:20:23is that she may well now feel aggrieved by Imre that,
0:20:23 > 0:20:26"Hey, you gave evidence against me,
0:20:26 > 0:20:29"you kept reporting me, you, you, you."
0:20:29 > 0:20:32He's feeling that there is almost no way out from this.
0:20:37 > 0:20:38In Carly's case,
0:20:38 > 0:20:41Alison believes Hertfordshire Police
0:20:41 > 0:20:43should be pursuing a stalking charge.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46Dog faeces through their letterbox.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50Carly's car keyed on her birthday.
0:20:50 > 0:20:54Now, we're at the stage of dead mice arriving in the post.
0:20:54 > 0:20:59What concerns is that we've had consistent fixated behaviour now
0:20:59 > 0:21:04for two years and a lot of notes saying police couldn't do anything
0:21:04 > 0:21:08but this is a Safer Neighbourhood Team Sergeant who is responding,
0:21:08 > 0:21:11and I would see this now as a matter for CID.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15A perfect case of not having the dots joined,
0:21:15 > 0:21:19not understanding fixation, not understanding stalking.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21It's a high-risk stalking case and if they don't understand that
0:21:21 > 0:21:24they might not get the cumulative risk.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26What I will do is provide you
0:21:26 > 0:21:30with some support a bit nearer to the time around court, as well
0:21:30 > 0:21:31as you being a witness...
0:21:37 > 0:21:41- How did Luton do at the weekend? - They won, 2-1.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44Have you been to Watford, then, Carly?
0:21:44 > 0:21:48Yeah, once. A long time ago? Never go again.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50It's all the foul language!
0:21:50 > 0:21:53They were saying, "See you next Tuesday" and everything!
0:21:53 > 0:21:57- Hiya, Mark. How have you been doing today?- OK, and you?
0:21:57 > 0:22:00Carly's family are desperate to bring years of attacks to an end.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04She has vandalised her dad's car,
0:22:04 > 0:22:06she's vandalised my van,
0:22:06 > 0:22:09she's sent hate mail through.
0:22:09 > 0:22:10Every week there was something,
0:22:10 > 0:22:14I was afraid to be at home on my own. I'm nearly 60 years of age.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18I don't need hate mail from a 20-odd-year-old.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22The stalkers showed their perverse dedication
0:22:22 > 0:22:25when they unearthed a 30-year-old family secret.
0:22:26 > 0:22:28- It was hand delivered. - It was hand delivered.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31I thought it was a wedding invitation to start with
0:22:31 > 0:22:34in a coloured envelope. When I opened it up...
0:22:41 > 0:22:43- SOBBING:- It's got my son's name on it... Sorry!
0:22:43 > 0:22:45I don't...
0:22:45 > 0:22:48"David,
0:22:48 > 0:22:50"what a great role model you are.
0:22:50 > 0:22:51"Explains a lot."
0:22:53 > 0:22:55And the thing is, I haven't seen my son,
0:22:55 > 0:23:00it wasn't my son's fault, this was down to me, since he was seven.
0:23:00 > 0:23:01He's now 36 years of age.
0:23:13 > 0:23:14Nobody knew about that -
0:23:14 > 0:23:17even some of the family members didn't know about that.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19Something I kept to myself.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23I don't think... I won't ever get over that.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27What kind of person would do that?
0:23:31 > 0:23:32Sorry...
0:23:34 > 0:23:38It's been a hard part of somebody's life, that is,
0:23:38 > 0:23:42without somebody sending malicious, unnecessary...
0:23:44 > 0:23:47It seems amazing how the police have let it go on for so long
0:23:47 > 0:23:48without actually doing anything.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51- It seems like she can do what she likes...- Yeah.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54..and she's got the law on her side.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20You can never relax, you know?
0:24:22 > 0:24:25It's just constant in your mind.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28Sweet dreams. OK, darling.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36I hear her walking about,
0:24:36 > 0:24:38opening doors.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43I keep thinking, "I wonder if she's put the window alarm on?"
0:24:45 > 0:24:48The psychology of somebody like him,
0:24:48 > 0:24:51that's cowardly and creeps about in the dark,
0:24:51 > 0:24:54that's the stuff nightmares are made of.
0:24:57 > 0:24:59Every night, single mum Melissa Thompson
0:24:59 > 0:25:03sleeps on the sofa in her kitchen by her CCTV.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09I have a crowbar and that stays round the back of my pillow,
0:25:09 > 0:25:13round the back of the settee.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16It's the only way I'll sleep, if I know that if something did happen,
0:25:16 > 0:25:19and he did actually come in this house,
0:25:19 > 0:25:22then I've got a chance of stopping him getting anywhere near me mum
0:25:22 > 0:25:24or anywhere near me son.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42Melissa lives with her mum Edith and her 13-year-old son John.
0:25:43 > 0:25:47They think they're being stalked by Melissa's ex-boyfriend.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51Look at these things. They've outgrown themselves.
0:25:53 > 0:25:58Ex-partners make up 57% of all stalking cases.
0:25:58 > 0:26:02I thought he was a very nice man, polite, had a good job.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07I thought, "She's all right here, this is the one!"
0:26:07 > 0:26:11And then he gradually wanted to take over control
0:26:11 > 0:26:13and she wouldn't have that.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18I should get plenty of seed pods off that one...
0:26:18 > 0:26:20At first, I just took it as a break-up
0:26:20 > 0:26:23and he was having trouble dealing with it.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25I thought it would sort of calm down.
0:26:25 > 0:26:27I just wouldn't answer his phone calls
0:26:27 > 0:26:29and I wouldn't answer his texts,
0:26:29 > 0:26:31then he started ringing on withheld numbers,
0:26:31 > 0:26:33so we blocked withheld numbers.
0:26:33 > 0:26:35The night he turned up banging on the window out here,
0:26:35 > 0:26:37I just said to John and my mum,
0:26:37 > 0:26:39"Get upstairs and stay up there and lock the door."
0:26:39 > 0:26:43And I was on the phone to the police, and his banging carried on.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46Me son's upstairs, terrified.
0:26:48 > 0:26:49Anyway, two policewomen came
0:26:49 > 0:26:52and that's when me mobile started ringing. She said, "Is that him?"
0:26:52 > 0:26:54And I went, "Oh, yeah."
0:26:54 > 0:26:56So, she answered it and he ranted and raved at her.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59She said, "If you don't stop, we're going to come and arrest you."
0:27:00 > 0:27:03After six months of abusive phone calls
0:27:03 > 0:27:06and sometimes up to 30 texts a day,
0:27:06 > 0:27:10Melissa's ex was served with a Police Information Notice - or PIN -
0:27:10 > 0:27:13warning him further behaviour would be considered an offence.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17That's when it started to get really sinister.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19All this damage was happening.
0:27:19 > 0:27:23Somebody pulled all the wiring from the hot tub in the back garden,
0:27:23 > 0:27:26my windscreen wipers had been pulled off my car,
0:27:26 > 0:27:28someone has knocked some stakes into the ground
0:27:28 > 0:27:30so that it would damage the lawn mower,
0:27:30 > 0:27:32notes on my back door, ranting letters.
0:27:32 > 0:27:36Somebody's come close to the house.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38Every time I rang the police about an incident or a letter
0:27:38 > 0:27:40had been dropped on the door,
0:27:40 > 0:27:42all they said was, "Have you got CCTV?"
0:27:42 > 0:27:43When they didn't do anything,
0:27:43 > 0:27:46because they said, "You've got no proof, you've got no proof,"
0:27:46 > 0:27:49we splashed out for CCTV, which we couldn't really afford
0:27:49 > 0:27:51but we've had to do it, really.
0:27:58 > 0:28:02This covers the drive because I've have had a lot of damage to my car.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04And the other one was the back.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07It's the quietest part of the garden
0:28:07 > 0:28:10and also it can't be viewed from the street or any of our neighbours.
0:28:13 > 0:28:17Over recent weeks, Melissa and her mum have become more fearful.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22A few nights ago, a torch appeared up the garden.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33It was dark. Couldn't see who was holding the torch.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35And it moved about a bit...
0:28:36 > 0:28:39..then it shone straight at the house
0:28:39 > 0:28:41as if to say, "I'm here! I'm here!"
0:28:41 > 0:28:43And then he went.
0:28:45 > 0:28:47It's frightening.
0:28:47 > 0:28:50Fancy crawling around somebody's garden!
0:28:51 > 0:28:54Melissa hasn't seen her ex at the house since the police notice,
0:28:54 > 0:28:58but she can't think who else would be coming into her garden.
0:28:59 > 0:29:03I think he's staying away from the house,
0:29:03 > 0:29:05so that he can't be seen,
0:29:05 > 0:29:08so it's sort of, "I'm still here,
0:29:08 > 0:29:10"and you can put cameras up but it's not going stop me.
0:29:10 > 0:29:12"I'll just find a way round it."
0:29:12 > 0:29:16Isn't it ridiculous, in this day and age.
0:29:16 > 0:29:20I tell you who we want on the job - Frost, off the telly -
0:29:20 > 0:29:22or who's the other one? The big...?
0:29:22 > 0:29:24- Cracker.- Cracker!
0:29:24 > 0:29:26He'd have it solved in a couple of days!
0:29:30 > 0:29:32It's clearly a person holding it.
0:29:34 > 0:29:38That's definitely torchlight, isn't it?
0:29:38 > 0:29:41He likes to come to the property at night.
0:29:41 > 0:29:45Ex-intimate stalkers are revenge stalkers.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48They are not accepting of the separation.
0:29:48 > 0:29:51At the point of separation, that's when they start to stalk.
0:29:51 > 0:29:54Such dedication to go into somebody's back garden at midnight!
0:29:55 > 0:29:59That revenge motivation is essentially based on control.
0:29:59 > 0:30:03Close down their world, isolate them, affect their job,
0:30:03 > 0:30:05affect the way they're thinking.
0:30:10 > 0:30:1413 months and it's just not stopping.
0:30:14 > 0:30:16I could get this revengeful furious ex,
0:30:16 > 0:30:19but after all this time, somebody who's willing
0:30:19 > 0:30:22to spend that kind of time hunting you down is just frightening.
0:30:22 > 0:30:23It is frightening.
0:30:39 > 0:30:43I have to drive past his house every morning on the way to work.
0:30:43 > 0:30:49There's been a few times when he's seen my car and followed me to work.
0:30:49 > 0:30:52If a car pulls up behind me or if there's the same car
0:30:52 > 0:30:56that follows me for any length of time, you're thinking,
0:30:56 > 0:30:59"He's still behind me. Why is he still behind me?"
0:31:03 > 0:31:06He tried to control me through the relationship
0:31:06 > 0:31:09and just came up against a brick wall.
0:31:09 > 0:31:14And now what he's doing is just continue to try and control me.
0:31:14 > 0:31:20He wants me to me knees and once he's got me there, he's won.
0:31:20 > 0:31:22So, I can't allow that to happen.
0:31:22 > 0:31:25I've got to...just get on with it.
0:31:42 > 0:31:46Imre's stalker has been out of prison for just six days.
0:31:46 > 0:31:49She's banned from entering Oxford,
0:31:49 > 0:31:53but, last night, an anonymous note was left on his door.
0:31:53 > 0:31:58I know if I stay in my current address I'm going to end up dead.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07Imre has fled his home and checked into a hotel.
0:32:16 > 0:32:19It says, "Keep dreaming, shine like a star...
0:32:21 > 0:32:27"Never give up, you are your own beautiful."
0:32:27 > 0:32:31"Beautiful" - she called me "beautiful" so many times.
0:32:31 > 0:32:35Those are her thoughts. Probably her cellmate wrote it down.
0:32:40 > 0:32:42This morning, police finally gave Imre
0:32:42 > 0:32:44a picture of his stalker's cellmate
0:32:44 > 0:32:49who they believe is plotting with Charlie Howells to stab him.
0:32:51 > 0:32:55The emotional toll it's taking on you is very high.
0:32:55 > 0:32:58I don't want to go back home till she's behind bars.
0:32:58 > 0:33:00It's just not safe.
0:33:00 > 0:33:02Yup, yup, I feel for you
0:33:02 > 0:33:04and I feel that anxiety...
0:33:04 > 0:33:08- I'm still shaking.- The situation is what's abnormal
0:33:08 > 0:33:10and what's not right...
0:33:10 > 0:33:14- ALISON:- Very concerning level of fixation here.
0:33:14 > 0:33:17It's obsession, it's hunting that victim down.
0:33:19 > 0:33:22Completely controlling their life.
0:33:36 > 0:33:38Hertfordshire Police, please?
0:33:39 > 0:33:42Yes, there might be someone who knows the case,
0:33:42 > 0:33:44Carly Bradbury's case.
0:33:44 > 0:33:46I'm her stalking advocate.
0:33:47 > 0:33:51The police have finally arrested Carly's stalker, Poppy Carter,
0:33:51 > 0:33:54but Paladin believe the Crown Prosecution Service
0:33:54 > 0:33:56are looking at the wrong charge.
0:33:58 > 0:34:00I just wanted to speak to someone who might know why
0:34:00 > 0:34:04the word "harassment" instead of "stalking" has been mentioned,
0:34:04 > 0:34:06with Poppy's arrest?
0:34:06 > 0:34:10Hopefully, we can change it to a stalking charge.
0:34:10 > 0:34:13I don't want it dumbed down to harassment,
0:34:13 > 0:34:18because that's how it feels when they overlook the fixation
0:34:18 > 0:34:21and just treat it as a nuisance behaviour.
0:34:27 > 0:34:30I don't understand the reluctance to call it stalking.
0:34:30 > 0:34:33Because criminal damage and harassment
0:34:33 > 0:34:35could be one-off incidents.
0:34:35 > 0:34:37This is an obsession.
0:34:37 > 0:34:39It's a mental-health thing.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41Just because she's got arrested on Friday,
0:34:41 > 0:34:43it doesn't mean she's going to stop
0:34:43 > 0:34:45because she's fixated and obsessed.
0:34:45 > 0:34:49She needs to be convicted for stalking
0:34:49 > 0:34:54and get the mental health resources that she needs.
0:34:54 > 0:34:56I just wonder when it's going to end. How it's going to end.
0:34:56 > 0:34:59- It's not going to end.- You can't take a lifetime of this.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04It would be quicker if I get hit by a bus. Then it would stop.
0:35:11 > 0:35:13Poppy Carter's recent arrest
0:35:13 > 0:35:16appears to have triggered a backlash from her mother.
0:35:18 > 0:35:20So, the stalker's mother...
0:35:22 > 0:35:24I don't understand what she's put on here.
0:35:24 > 0:35:28She's put a... A baby scan up?
0:35:28 > 0:35:3120 weeks pregnant - what the hell is that about?
0:35:33 > 0:35:36She's put in, what a good family you are
0:35:36 > 0:35:39breaking up with her daughter when she was 20 weeks pregnant.
0:35:39 > 0:35:41That's what it's about.
0:35:44 > 0:35:47- When was that posted? - Four hours ago.
0:35:48 > 0:35:53- Just ignore it.- She's going on about the same things,
0:35:53 > 0:35:54like, three years down the line.
0:35:54 > 0:35:56Carly, can you put your phone down now?
0:35:56 > 0:35:58Cos you know how it's going to make you feel.
0:36:03 > 0:36:04Why can't you ignore it?
0:36:06 > 0:36:07Cos it's, it's...
0:36:07 > 0:36:09because I can ignore it,
0:36:09 > 0:36:12but the fact is, when they're doing angry rants like this,
0:36:12 > 0:36:14I know that they're going to do something,
0:36:14 > 0:36:16and that's what worries me.
0:36:16 > 0:36:20Cos every time this happens, something happens after that.
0:36:20 > 0:36:21But you can't stop that.
0:36:21 > 0:36:25Yeah, but it doesn't stop me from worrying about it.
0:36:25 > 0:36:26You can't just switch off.
0:36:26 > 0:36:28You can switch off, I can't.
0:36:28 > 0:36:31It's me that tries to pick you up when these things happen.
0:36:31 > 0:36:33The only person who can pick me up
0:36:33 > 0:36:35is the police doing their job properly.
0:36:35 > 0:36:37That's the only people that can pick me up.
0:36:52 > 0:36:54What's the reason behind these cameras?
0:36:54 > 0:36:57- Just a bit of home security? - Well, I'm being stalked.
0:36:57 > 0:36:59It's been going on for about 14 months now.
0:36:59 > 0:37:02Hopefully, these will do the trick, once we get them set up,
0:37:02 > 0:37:05they will pick up anybody walking from this direction.
0:37:05 > 0:37:09Additional cameras are being installed in Melissa's garden.
0:37:09 > 0:37:11She and her mother are becoming more scared
0:37:11 > 0:37:13in the run-up to Bonfire Night.
0:37:13 > 0:37:15I'm on edge all the time, you know,
0:37:15 > 0:37:17it sounds ridiculous, I know,
0:37:17 > 0:37:22but I'm always on edge, if you know what I mean, I can't relax.
0:37:22 > 0:37:23We've got this camera here...
0:37:23 > 0:37:25I think he's waiting until 5th November,
0:37:25 > 0:37:29and he's coming to set fire to something.
0:37:29 > 0:37:33I've just noticed something I find a tad worrying - that!
0:37:34 > 0:37:36That's been broke on purpose.
0:37:36 > 0:37:38That would fire pretty quick..
0:37:39 > 0:37:40Yup.
0:37:40 > 0:37:44Fuelling their anxiety, a mutual friend says she's heard Melissa's ex
0:37:44 > 0:37:47talking suspiciously about Bonfire Night
0:37:47 > 0:37:49and is worried for her safety.
0:37:49 > 0:37:52It's a shame he doesn't come in the daytime, really.
0:37:52 > 0:37:55Yeah, it is. There's no way he can get down the garden.
0:37:55 > 0:37:57- The whole boundary to boundary's covered.- Yup.
0:38:03 > 0:38:07- Hello, Melissa. It's Alison from Paladin.- Hiya.
0:38:07 > 0:38:10- I just wondered, did you call the police?- Yeah.
0:38:10 > 0:38:12And what did they say?
0:38:12 > 0:38:15They said, I don't think we need to take a statement or anything,
0:38:15 > 0:38:18but we'll get back to you and they didn't.
0:38:19 > 0:38:23I'll see if there's any pushing I can do with the police.
0:38:23 > 0:38:25Just cos he said Bonfire Night,
0:38:25 > 0:38:28it's not necessarily going to be.
0:38:28 > 0:38:30It could just be that threat.
0:38:30 > 0:38:33He's patient and that's worse.
0:38:33 > 0:38:35Like you say, he might be trying to create
0:38:35 > 0:38:37this level of fear for you,
0:38:37 > 0:38:41this build-up and then not do anything on that day.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43You just reach a point where you get sick to death
0:38:43 > 0:38:46or frightened of your own shadow, And you think, "Oh, for God's sake,
0:38:46 > 0:38:49- "just do whatever you're going to do and get on with it."- Yeah.
0:38:55 > 0:38:57The firemen have given us safety ladders.
0:38:58 > 0:39:00What a carry on!
0:39:00 > 0:39:03I don't know how they expect me to climb over a window sill
0:39:03 > 0:39:04onto a safety ladder!
0:39:04 > 0:39:07But I don't say anything.
0:39:10 > 0:39:14Like you say, you don't know if it's just an idle threat
0:39:14 > 0:39:18to frighten you or if he is actually going to do something,
0:39:18 > 0:39:20you don't know what he's going to do.
0:39:20 > 0:39:24Well, I've rung police and told them.
0:39:24 > 0:39:26What did they say? Wait till it happens?
0:39:26 > 0:39:30They are supposed to log it, and then when I've rung back later,
0:39:30 > 0:39:33- nobody's got any log of it.- This is silly. This is absolute silliness.
0:39:33 > 0:39:34I just want it logging,
0:39:34 > 0:39:38because otherwise when I ring up and say something's been set fire to,
0:39:38 > 0:39:39they'll say, "Why do you think it's him?
0:39:39 > 0:39:41"What makes you think it's him?"
0:39:41 > 0:39:44Police have basically turned round to you and said,
0:39:44 > 0:39:47"Well, let's wait and see if it happens."
0:39:47 > 0:39:49They've not said that, but...
0:39:49 > 0:39:52In so many words they've said it to you,
0:39:52 > 0:39:54and when it happens, it's too late.
0:39:54 > 0:39:57Honestly, I've reached that point now where I'm just numb.
0:39:57 > 0:40:00Just do whatever you're going to do and get on with it.
0:40:14 > 0:40:16Thames Valley Police have made arrangements
0:40:16 > 0:40:19for Imre to move into a safe house.
0:40:21 > 0:40:25I don't see that much daylight any more..
0:40:28 > 0:40:31So... I hate this curtain... I have to have this,
0:40:31 > 0:40:37cos it's always closed so no-one can see in...
0:40:37 > 0:40:40and I am not happy about the front door.
0:40:43 > 0:40:45I'm planning to cover the glass.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48My personal life, it shrinks...
0:40:49 > 0:40:51..and...
0:40:52 > 0:40:56..this is the only way I can feel safe
0:40:56 > 0:40:59if I do those changes like no more sunlight.
0:41:05 > 0:41:06It's like a little prison.
0:41:09 > 0:41:13But it's safe and I would like to keep it that way.
0:41:25 > 0:41:28Alison and Catherine are travelling to Oxford
0:41:28 > 0:41:31with an important update for Imre.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34This will be the first time they've met him face to face.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37Even if the perpetrator is in custody,
0:41:37 > 0:41:39it doesn't make a difference.
0:41:39 > 0:41:41He's been programmed to be hyper-vigilant
0:41:41 > 0:41:44because that's your survival response.
0:41:44 > 0:41:47I can't imagine that he's sleeping.
0:41:47 > 0:41:50It will be useful to explore that a bit more...
0:41:50 > 0:41:51DOOR BELL RINGS
0:41:51 > 0:41:54- Hello! Nice to meet you, finally. - Nice to meet you, Imre.
0:41:54 > 0:41:58- How are you settling in? - Slowly. It's much safer.
0:41:58 > 0:41:59No-one knows about it.
0:41:59 > 0:42:03I didn't even tell to my boss that I'm living here.
0:42:03 > 0:42:04OK, that's good.
0:42:04 > 0:42:08I've got some news. It's good news.
0:42:08 > 0:42:10She's been recalled.
0:42:10 > 0:42:14So, that means she has to serve the remainder of her sentence.
0:42:14 > 0:42:17We've had a long discussion about when would that mean
0:42:17 > 0:42:18possibly she might get out.
0:42:18 > 0:42:22The end of her sentence will take her to August 2017.
0:42:22 > 0:42:25So, how do you feel?
0:42:26 > 0:42:29Everybody thinks I'm like a strong male
0:42:29 > 0:42:32and I can deal with this - but I cannot, you know?
0:42:32 > 0:42:35I lost my girlfriend because of this...
0:42:35 > 0:42:37Everything, you know?
0:42:37 > 0:42:38So...
0:42:38 > 0:42:41It is difficult, you know, still.
0:42:41 > 0:42:43Of course it is. I know.
0:42:43 > 0:42:44SHE SIGHS
0:42:44 > 0:42:49And I, you know, I just wish I had a magic wand, as well, for you.
0:42:49 > 0:42:53Why should have to lose your girlfriend and lose all of this?
0:42:53 > 0:42:57Actually, if I'm alone I'm always like this.
0:42:57 > 0:42:58Imre, I'm so sorry.
0:42:58 > 0:43:03I don't want to show it to my colleagues and my friends.
0:43:03 > 0:43:05It's too much.
0:43:05 > 0:43:12Imre, anyone would feel awful like this.
0:43:12 > 0:43:15This is not something that you should have to be living through.
0:43:15 > 0:43:19You're human and you want to have a relationship
0:43:19 > 0:43:21and you want to have friends.
0:43:21 > 0:43:25The thing is, if I have a girlfriend and start a family,
0:43:25 > 0:43:27she will be out one day,
0:43:27 > 0:43:29and what is she going to do?
0:43:29 > 0:43:31She's so messed up, you know?
0:43:31 > 0:43:34So, so... In her head.
0:43:37 > 0:43:41With short sentences and no psychological treatment in prison,
0:43:41 > 0:43:45Imre lives in fear that his stalker will reoffend on her release.
0:43:45 > 0:43:47- Thank you.- All right. Take care.
0:43:47 > 0:43:50- Have a good journey, then. - Thank you.
0:43:50 > 0:43:54It's always hitting me when I'm at home late,
0:43:54 > 0:43:58I had those good memories of when I used to have my girlfriend.
0:43:58 > 0:44:00I still really love her...
0:44:02 > 0:44:04..but...
0:44:05 > 0:44:08..you know, she had enough,
0:44:08 > 0:44:11and I can totally understand that.
0:44:11 > 0:44:13It's not right.
0:44:13 > 0:44:15At all, you know?
0:44:18 > 0:44:21You know, I just don't want to cry again...
0:44:23 > 0:44:25It's just bad.
0:44:42 > 0:44:46Poppy Carter is still on bail for criminal damage and harassment
0:44:46 > 0:44:49while police gather more evidence.
0:44:51 > 0:44:55After the stalker was at the police station last week
0:44:55 > 0:44:57for her bail conditions,
0:44:57 > 0:45:01her mum started again on her Facebook rants.
0:45:02 > 0:45:04There's been quite a number of them.
0:45:04 > 0:45:09So, the first one, she put up an e-card saying, "I'll wait."
0:45:09 > 0:45:13Which I think she's waiting for what the outcome is
0:45:13 > 0:45:14and then she'll start up again.
0:45:14 > 0:45:18And she put #dirtyrottenscum.
0:45:20 > 0:45:22She put up another e-card, saying,
0:45:22 > 0:45:25"All in good time, my pretty," from the Wicked Witch.
0:45:25 > 0:45:28So, again, it's just more threats.
0:45:28 > 0:45:30I think these posts were put up out of anger,
0:45:30 > 0:45:33I think she couldn't help herself.
0:45:33 > 0:45:35Unless she's stalking someone else,
0:45:35 > 0:45:39who else would these be aimed at?
0:45:39 > 0:45:41She's absolutely off her head.
0:45:57 > 0:45:59I'm sick of it, Melissa! I really am.
0:45:59 > 0:46:03- I know you are. Well, so am I. - I'm holding on, holding on.
0:46:03 > 0:46:06It's been going on for so long.
0:46:06 > 0:46:09We used to have a quiet, peaceful life.
0:46:10 > 0:46:12It's Bonfire Night.
0:46:12 > 0:46:15Melissa, her mum and her son John are on edge.
0:46:16 > 0:46:19They can sneak round the back of the shed,
0:46:19 > 0:46:22just pour some petrol in there, and throw a match and run.
0:46:22 > 0:46:24It's next to Paul's buildings,
0:46:24 > 0:46:28and it's sure to spread across if he sets fire to that.
0:46:28 > 0:46:31If he sets fire to that, Paul will shoot him.
0:46:31 > 0:46:32- How many fishcakes?- Two.- Two.
0:46:49 > 0:46:52Did you hear anything at all last night?
0:46:52 > 0:46:54No. nothing.
0:46:54 > 0:46:55- Any bangings, rustlings?- Nothing.
0:46:57 > 0:47:00Melissa checks last night's CCTV.
0:47:01 > 0:47:03A quiet night.
0:47:05 > 0:47:07- Is that good or bad? - No. It's good, it's very good.
0:47:10 > 0:47:13I just want to catch him and get some evidence...
0:47:15 > 0:47:17..that the police would actually have to use.
0:47:17 > 0:47:20I mean, we've had loads of things that could have only been him.
0:47:20 > 0:47:21He's so patient.
0:47:21 > 0:47:23I always said that's the worst thing about it,
0:47:23 > 0:47:26I'll never know when it's stopped.
0:47:33 > 0:47:35See you later.
0:47:35 > 0:47:37Love you.
0:47:37 > 0:47:39Hope it goes well.
0:47:40 > 0:47:44After a two-year battle, the Crown Prosecution Service
0:47:44 > 0:47:46have finally charged Poppy Carter with stalking.
0:47:48 > 0:47:51Today is a court hearing to determine
0:47:51 > 0:47:53whether the case will go to trial.
0:47:53 > 0:47:58I haven't slept hardly in the last few nights.
0:47:58 > 0:48:00I've been getting myself in a state about it.
0:48:02 > 0:48:05I feel sick to the stomach.
0:48:05 > 0:48:08It's just like the day we wanted for so long,
0:48:08 > 0:48:10to finally get her into court,
0:48:10 > 0:48:13and, you know, get some kind of justice.
0:48:13 > 0:48:15So, I'm feeling nervous about that.
0:48:21 > 0:48:26Stalking was made a criminal offence in 2012,
0:48:26 > 0:48:28yet few cases make it to court.
0:48:29 > 0:48:34My guess is that she is going to plead not guilty today,
0:48:34 > 0:48:37it's a way of staying in contact with me. It's a two-week trial,
0:48:37 > 0:48:40she will obviously see me there, I'll have to see her,
0:48:40 > 0:48:44it's just another way of staying in contact with each other,
0:48:44 > 0:48:46another way to torment me.
0:48:49 > 0:48:53Alex's stepfather Kevin is going into court on Carly's behalf.
0:48:55 > 0:49:00- Are you going to come in with us? - No.- No? I can't convince you?
0:49:00 > 0:49:03No, I can't. I feel sick even thinking about it. I can't face her.
0:49:03 > 0:49:05I fully understand, but if you change your mind,
0:49:05 > 0:49:08- you want to come in? - Yeah, OK, thank you.
0:49:12 > 0:49:15It's like I'm living an absolute nightmare.
0:49:19 > 0:49:22If she hadn't been arrested after that mouse,
0:49:22 > 0:49:24it was getting more and more sinister
0:49:24 > 0:49:27where I would have thought it would have resulted in my murder.
0:49:27 > 0:49:30Because that's how horror films end,
0:49:30 > 0:49:32and it feels like a horror film to me.
0:49:38 > 0:49:40- What?- Hello, darling.
0:49:40 > 0:49:43- You look upset.- I think it went the way you thought it would.
0:49:43 > 0:49:46- Not guilty? - She's pleaded not guilty.
0:49:46 > 0:49:50She hired a private detective, which was quite interesting.
0:49:50 > 0:49:53- That came out.- What the fuck? Someone has been following me?
0:49:53 > 0:49:57You and Alex. That's how she found out where you and Alex live.
0:49:57 > 0:49:58What a weirdo!
0:49:58 > 0:50:02Who hires a private detective to find out?
0:50:02 > 0:50:06And then she still pleads not guilty! Just own up to it...
0:50:06 > 0:50:08The full trial will be in three months.
0:50:08 > 0:50:11Then Carly will have to face her stalker for the first time
0:50:11 > 0:50:13to give evidence.
0:50:14 > 0:50:18- ALEX:- Even though it's expected, I am really frustrated.
0:50:18 > 0:50:20- Yeah, same.- I can't believe she had the cheek
0:50:20 > 0:50:22to get a private detective.
0:50:22 > 0:50:25That would explain how she's got our address, though.
0:50:25 > 0:50:26I'm in angry mode right now.
0:50:26 > 0:50:29I'm still suffering from anxiety, I'm still scared about my future
0:50:29 > 0:50:32but I'm pissed off with what she's done to me.
0:50:32 > 0:50:35I've had enough of it. I'm not standing for it any longer.
0:50:35 > 0:50:38So, just keep throwing it at me
0:50:38 > 0:50:41because I'm not... I'm not going to budge.
0:50:46 > 0:50:49KEYPAD TONES
0:50:49 > 0:50:51Hello, my name's Melissa Thompson,
0:50:51 > 0:50:53I've had a long-going stalking problem.
0:50:53 > 0:50:56A policeman with you fingerprinted a letter...
0:50:56 > 0:50:59There's been a breakthrough in Melissa's case.
0:50:59 > 0:51:01Police have found fingerprints on one of the anonymous letters
0:51:01 > 0:51:03left at her house.
0:51:03 > 0:51:06These could reveal the identity of her stalker.
0:51:07 > 0:51:10My ex-partner refused to have his fingerprints taken.
0:51:10 > 0:51:12I'd like some information
0:51:12 > 0:51:15on whereabouts we are with it right now. OK, thank you.
0:51:22 > 0:51:24I don't have any faith in the police now
0:51:24 > 0:51:27because they just don't seem to take it seriously.
0:51:30 > 0:51:33When you read the whole content of the letters,
0:51:33 > 0:51:37it mentions me taking his daughter dancing,
0:51:37 > 0:51:40all sorts of personal things that only he could have known.
0:51:40 > 0:51:45One paragraph jumps from, like, one nice thing to one rant,
0:51:45 > 0:51:46to another rant.
0:51:46 > 0:51:48"Not like I did nothing for you,
0:51:48 > 0:51:51"more than anyone else in your past, I do believe.
0:51:51 > 0:51:54"Do you ever regret meeting me? Wish I'd never met you."
0:51:54 > 0:51:57And then it goes from that to like,
0:51:57 > 0:52:00"I do hope you've got your health problems sorted out."
0:52:01 > 0:52:05Like that policeman said, "That's saved on a computer somewhere."
0:52:05 > 0:52:08So, if they took his computer in the first place...
0:52:08 > 0:52:11- They would have that. - Then it would be hard evidence.
0:52:11 > 0:52:13- It would be proof. - That would be proof, yeah...
0:52:15 > 0:52:17..and then they could have charged him with stalking.
0:52:26 > 0:52:28We would assign a caseworker and we could go from there.
0:52:28 > 0:52:31Seven weeks later, the CPS granted police
0:52:31 > 0:52:33the right to arrest Melissa's ex,
0:52:33 > 0:52:36to force him to give his fingerprints.
0:52:36 > 0:52:38Paladin are hoping for a match.
0:52:38 > 0:52:42It looks like I've got a reply from the OIC for Melissa's case.
0:52:46 > 0:52:48So, it says, "Hi, the suspect was arrested
0:52:48 > 0:52:49"and denied sending a letter.
0:52:49 > 0:52:53"Unfortunately, his fingerprints were not found to be on the letter.
0:52:53 > 0:52:54"Due to no further lines of inquiry,
0:52:54 > 0:52:57"the suspect was released with no further action.
0:52:57 > 0:52:58"I hope this helps.'
0:53:01 > 0:53:05It is disappointing. If there were no fingerprints on the letters
0:53:05 > 0:53:07and they don't match his,
0:53:07 > 0:53:10then we can't deny that fact, so we just have to...
0:53:10 > 0:53:13The CPS and police have to work with what they've got.
0:53:13 > 0:53:17And in this instance, there isn't anything concrete.
0:53:17 > 0:53:19But this is the frustrating thing,
0:53:19 > 0:53:22you know you really want to start
0:53:22 > 0:53:24to see more prosecutions coming through.
0:53:24 > 0:53:27Often stalkers don't even get a criminal conviction.
0:53:27 > 0:53:30So, it's your ex-partner that's been stalking you, am I right?
0:53:30 > 0:53:33This is why we say they steal lives and take lives.
0:53:33 > 0:53:35You know, I have a case where it has been 17 years
0:53:35 > 0:53:39that have been stolen of that person's life and that's not...
0:53:39 > 0:53:44You know, how can that be fair and just?
0:53:44 > 0:53:47And how can that person and their family
0:53:47 > 0:53:51be expected to live with that for such a long time?
0:54:03 > 0:54:05For Melissa and her family,
0:54:05 > 0:54:07it's hard to accept that their case has been dropped.
0:54:09 > 0:54:11I suppose I just feel a bit numb.
0:54:11 > 0:54:14That I have lived this hell for 14 months
0:54:14 > 0:54:19and he can just walk on, carry on like it's just not happened.
0:54:20 > 0:54:24But the after-effects it'll leave on us will be a lot different.
0:54:40 > 0:54:42This is the MP Alex Chalk who is campaigning
0:54:42 > 0:54:45- for longer sentencing for stalkers. - All right.
0:54:45 > 0:54:48What seems to be a pattern in so many of these cases...
0:54:48 > 0:54:52Imre and Paladin are attending a stalking event in London
0:54:52 > 0:54:55to raise awareness of how victims are repeatedly failed
0:54:55 > 0:54:59by the criminal justice system.
0:54:59 > 0:55:01The National Stalking Helpline
0:55:01 > 0:55:03respond to calls from victims of stalking.
0:55:03 > 0:55:07If the police were doing their job properly and more effectively,
0:55:07 > 0:55:09then half of those people may not even come
0:55:09 > 0:55:11to the National Stalking Helpline...
0:55:11 > 0:55:14Imre wants to share the catalogue of police errors
0:55:14 > 0:55:17that gave his identity away to his stalker.
0:55:17 > 0:55:20I'm so fed up calling the police
0:55:20 > 0:55:23and wasting my time to make those statements.
0:55:23 > 0:55:25It's just... It's goes nowhere.
0:55:25 > 0:55:29I think the system is not able to help me at all.
0:55:29 > 0:55:33Ahh, what happened was she got a warning from the police,
0:55:33 > 0:55:37and they wrote down my name on that paper,
0:55:37 > 0:55:39on that warning notice,
0:55:39 > 0:55:41and she found out my full name.
0:55:41 > 0:55:45The police GAVE the stalker Imre's details
0:55:45 > 0:55:47on the harassment warning,
0:55:47 > 0:55:51the police inadvertently aggravated the stalking,
0:55:51 > 0:55:54she was then able to access his phone number
0:55:54 > 0:55:57his address, everything.
0:55:57 > 0:55:59I think my life is ruined.
0:55:59 > 0:56:01You know, I'm going to build up a new life.
0:56:01 > 0:56:04You know, even I was thinking about changing my name.
0:56:04 > 0:56:06Thank you so much, Imre.
0:56:06 > 0:56:09We really hope that today is the start of a process
0:56:09 > 0:56:11where we can take stalking seriously,
0:56:11 > 0:56:14that we change attitudes to stalking...
0:56:21 > 0:56:24I need to deal with this.
0:56:24 > 0:56:28I already have some plans for the future
0:56:28 > 0:56:33and I'm definitely going to reach them
0:56:33 > 0:56:35because I know that I'll be safe again...
0:56:37 > 0:56:40..and my life will be much, much better.
0:56:49 > 0:56:51For the last four days,
0:56:51 > 0:56:54the jury in Poppy Carter's trial
0:56:54 > 0:56:56has been listening to the evidence.
0:56:56 > 0:56:58Their verdict is expected tomorrow.
0:56:59 > 0:57:01It's been a horrible week.
0:57:07 > 0:57:09What if she doesn't get convicted?
0:57:11 > 0:57:14I am hopeful, but, obviously, it's in the hands of the jury.
0:57:14 > 0:57:15They have to decide it now.
0:57:22 > 0:57:24Did you look at her?
0:57:25 > 0:57:28I could see her in the corner of my eye,
0:57:28 > 0:57:30and then I looked at her yesterday.
0:57:31 > 0:57:34It's weird... It's weird after all this time, that...
0:57:34 > 0:57:37kind of mask was unveiled
0:57:37 > 0:57:38and there she is...
0:57:41 > 0:57:43I was expecting this monster.
0:57:45 > 0:57:48But you know, if you walk past her in the street,
0:57:48 > 0:57:51- you wouldn't think that she's done all this, would you?- No.
0:57:51 > 0:57:54- You wouldn't think it. - No, you can't spot a stalker.
0:58:35 > 0:58:38- WOMAN:- He was constantly on my e-mail, constantly on my Facebook,
0:58:38 > 0:58:40trying to meet with me.
0:58:40 > 0:58:42Are you afraid that he might kill the children?
0:58:44 > 0:58:47- WOMAN:- I can't protect myself. I don't know what he'll do next.