'Besotted' taxi firm boss jailed for stalking ex-girlfriendStephen Munro was jailed at Swansea Crown Court after being convicted of stalking and breaching a restraining order
A "BESOTTED" businessman who stalked an ex-partner just weeks after being given a restraining order designed to protect her has been sent to jail.
Stephen Munro - who runs a major taxi firm providing school transport - would go to the street where the woman lived, visit the park where she walked her dog, and watch her driving her car.
A judge said it was "plain as a pikestaff" that Munro's behaviour had had a psychological impact on his victim and had "damaged" her.
The 45-year-old, of The Moulders, Aberkenfig, had denied stalking and breaching a restraining order but was found guilty following a trial at Swansea Crown Court.
The court heard Munro and his victim had been in a four year relationship which came to an end in the summer of 2015. He was subsequently convicted of harassing her, spent Christmas in custody, and was made the subject of a restraining order.
But within weeks of the order being made he began stalking the woman, behaviour which continued on for five months.
Among the things he did was go to the street where she lived, visit the park where she walked her dog, and watch her driving her car around town.
The court heard police spoke to him about his behaviour and he stopped for a while, before resuming and continuing to stalk her through May, June and July.
James Hartson, for Munro, said the defendant ran a "very successful" transport company in the Bridgend area with contracts with the local education authority, and that his conviction put his operators licence - and the jobs of 20 drivers - at risk.
The barrister said his client came to court "knowing full-well that he would not be leaving by the front door".
READ MORE: This is the dead mouse found under a counter that led to a takeaway manager being banned
Judge David Hale told the defendant his behaviour had been "persistent".
The judge said he had seen him victim giving evidence in the case and that "it was as clear as a pike staff to anybody in the room" that his conduct had had a psychological impact on her.
He said: "You are a man in your 40s, not some lovelorn teenager.
"She made it clear she wanted a life independent from you, but you were besotted by her. You behaved in a way that led to your incarceration over Christmas.
"But you did not learn your lesson.
"You started further harassment of her - you stalked her within weeks of the order."
Referring to the victim giving evidence in the trial, the judge said: "You could see the strain in her - she was damaged by what happened. This was deliberate - you knew you were doing harm.
"You have to go to prison."
Munro was sentenced to a total of 18 months in jail, half of which he serve in custody.
Read more at
http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk ... RhKYAbX.99
Login
Register
FAQ
