Stalker jailed for campaign of abuse to ex-girlfriend
A SPORTS club has launched a fundraising bid to install security gates after travellers moved onto pitches and damaged facilities.
To the anger of club members and neighbours, caravans and cars set up at Ainsdale Sports Club late on Tuesday, May 26.
Police were called to the club, on Liverpool Road, but were unable to force the group to move on.
An uninsured van was seized but the group were able to stay until a court order could force them away the next day.
Between the notice being served and the group leaving, damage was caused to the pitches and cricket scoreboard, while access was also forced onto the locked 3G sports pitches.
The club hosts cricket and football teams on its grass pitches as well as offering the all-weather facilities for rent and its activities have been forced to stop by the coronavirus outbreak. But the eased restrictions have allowed limited uses of the club, while its clubhouse has remained operational thanks to a drinks delivery system.
Bosses brought in private security when the travellers moved in.
A spokesman for the club had warned other clubs in the area to be vigilant for similar attempts and described it as a “nightmare 24 hours”.
He added: “We wanted to say an overwhelming thank you to all our nearby neighbours, club members, supporters and members of the public who have helped us through the situation.
“It has been really heart warming for everyone who is a part of the club.
The club is now aiming to raise £2,000 to install security gates and has launched an online fundraiser.
A PROLIFIC stalker has been jailed for bombarding his ex-girlfriend with hundreds of calls and messages.
Francis Fitzmaurice, 45, stalked his former partner over a period of several months after the breakdown of their relationship.
Over one eight-day period, he called his victim 200 times from a series of different numbers and left 51 phone messages which Judge Louise Brandon described as “abusive, intimidating and generally unpleasant.”
Fitzmaurice, of
Wicks Lane, Formby, also set up fake accounts on social media to send abusive message to his ex-partner and her daughter.
He frequently referred to her as a “slut” or “dirty slut” and in one answer phone message, he told her: “You will never find me, I can do this forever.”
During the campaign of hate, the victim was left fearing for her safety and forced to change her phone number and delete accounts on Facebook and Instagram, which had a negative impact on her business.
Police issued an appeal to find the stalker earlier this year, saying he was originally from
Ainsdale and had links to Southport and Birkdale.
He was first arrested on February 12 and in an interview claimed it was his victim who had been unable to move on. But he later pleaded guilty to stalking and was sentenced to 22 months in prison last week.
Fitzmaurice, who already had 12 convictions for 24 offences and had previously been jailed three times, was also given a 15-year restraining order
TWO men were arrested as police carried out raids in Southport and Ormskirk.
Officers from Merseyside and Lancashire worked together to execute warrants last week.
Cannabis was recovered from four addresses after six warrants were executed by officers on Thursday and Friday. Three properties in Southport were raided on the first day, before another Southport home and two in Ormskirk were searched the following day.
Police arrested a 23-year-old man from Birkdale on suspicion of possession with intent to supply cannabis after a stop check on Canning Road in Southport, and a 37-year-old from
Ormskirk was arrested on suspicion of driving offences.
Insp Graham Fisher, Neighbourhood Inspector for North Sefton said: “We know that offenders cross county borders to deal drugs and our work alongside other forces, such as Lancashire police, to search homes and make arrests so that geography is no obstacle to the pursuit of justice.”
Anyone with information on drug dealing asked to contact police via social media, call 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 11.