Cannabis addict stalked and threatened his mother until she gave him £8,000
A MAN has been banned from contacting his own mother after stalking her for almost a year.
Adam Sharp bombarded the frail woman with demands for cash, leaving her no choice but to hand over £8,000 to him.
The 29-year-old labelled her ‘unworthy’ and threatened her with violence in order to get her to bankroll his £25 a day cannabis addition.
He admitted a charge of stalking when he appeared at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court.
Jess Lister, prosecuting, said that Sharp’s offending spanned between March 1 last year and January 24 this year.
She told the Huddersfield court that he started to rely on the victim for funds after the relationship with his wife fell apart.
Miss Lister said: “She gave him between £7,000 and £8,000 and felt pressured to give him this money as she feared he’d turn up and damage her property.”
The victim transferred the cash to Sharp online because she was so fearful of him turning up at her Dewsbury home.
His behaviour left her feeling upset and depressed, the court was told.
Magistrates were told that because of his behaviour towards his mother Sharp, of West Park Street, Dewsbury, was issued with a harassment warning in 2013 but had failed to comply with that.
Arsad Khan, mitigating, said Sharp acted in desperation to support his cannabis habit. He told magistrates: “There is genuine regret as he’s lost his relationship with his mother. He accepts that some of the tactics used are reprehensible.”
Magistrates sentenced Sharp to a 12-month community order. This includes the Thinking Skills Programme aimed at addressing his offending behaviour and 150 hours of unpaid work.
They made a two-year restraining order banning him from contacting his mother.
He was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and an £85 victim surcharge.