Woman ‘lives like a recluse’ after being stalked by ex-partner
A MAN tracked his former partner down to her new address and deliberately rammed her car with his 4x4, a court has heard.
Days earlier Thomas Harvey has chased her as she drove to see her parents to the point that the terrified woman thought he was going to force her off the road.
Newport Crown Court heard the woman has now moved house for a second time in an attempt to get away from him.
Martha Smith-Higgins, prosecuting, told the court the offences took place over the course of two days in April this year.
The first took place on the evening of April 7 when the victim was driving through Abertridwr en route to see her parents.
Miss Smith-Higgins said the victim saw a vehicle speeding up behind her before it pulled out as if to overtake.
However, instead of passing her, the vehicle pulled up alongside her and the woman was able to see the driver was her former partner Harvey.
The court heard the defendant then braked sharply, pulled in behind the woman’s car and began following her.
The prosecutor said Harvey began gradually increasing his speed, forcing the woman ahead of him to drive faster and faster to avoid being hit. The woman called 999 to report the incident, and the defendant continued to pursue her as far as Caerphilly before driving off.
The second incident was on the morning of April 9 when Harvey deliberately rammed the woman’s car twice as it was parked outside her home before speeding away.
He had tried to hide his identity by removing the number plates from his 4x4, and wearing a hood to obscure his face however part of the incident was witnessed by a neighbour living on the street. The victim’s car was so badly damaged it had to be written off.
When 27-year-old Harvey was arrested, police found messages he had exchanged with a friend where he discussed what he had done to his ex’s car.
An impact statement from the woman was read to the court where she described the impact the defendant’s stalking behaviour was having on her, saying she has become an “emotional wreck”.
She said during the first incident she had believed he was going to ram her car off the road, and then when he damaged her car outside her house – an address she believed Harvey did not know – it became obvious he had tracked her down. The woman said she now lives like a recluse in her new home.
Thomas James Harvey, of Windsor Place, Abertridwr, Caerphilly, had previously pleaded guilty to stalking, two counts of dangerous driving, and criminal damage when he appeared in the dock for sentencing.
He has 15 previous convictions for 27 offences including criminal damage, burglary, possession of drugs, and offences of violence.
In July this year he was sentenced to 20 months in prison at Newport Crown Court for production of cannabis, an offence dating back to August 2019 when almost 100 plants had been found growing in a room in his house.
Recorder Aidan Eardley told Harvey it was clear from his record that he was a “dedicated criminal” who had been in and out of prison over the last four years.
He said that by turning up at his ex’s new house and demonstrating that he knew where she lived in the “violent manner” he had, he had “shattered her peace of mind”.
The recorder said the appropriate sentence after trial would have been one of 26 months in prison – with 10% reduction for his guilty plea that was reduced to 23 months, and with a further reduction to allow for the fact Harvey is currently serving a custodial sentence that was reduced to 20 months.
The defendant will serve up to half that period in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.
Harvey was banned from driving for a total of 22 months.