Stalker’s ‘disgusting’ messages to women about killer Couzens
ASERIAL stalker sent “frightening” messages about murderer and rapist Wayne Couzens to women in Wales.
David Challinor, of Station Road in Deganwy, Conwy, contacted multiple women, which caused him to breach a 10-year sexual harm prevention order back issued in 2020.
He was previously spared jail after sending sexual messages to a female police officer. He found himself back before a judge having breached that order four times, and claimed he was trying to warn them about the dangers of the police.
The court heard from prosecutor, Mr Nicholas Williams, that the 52-year-old had sent his next-door neighbour a Christmas card back in December 2021. While innocent in his actions, with nothing untoward written in the greeting card, it did
breach the order that banned him from writing to any female without his offender manager knowing.
Things soon took a turn when the neighbour noticed the police turn up at Challinor’s door, the court heard. The next day, Challinor wrote his neighbour a letter. His note was posted through her door and sought to assure her that it was not the police who came to his flat.
Challinor then warned his neighbour never to be alone with a male police officer. It made reference to the Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens – responsible for the murder and rape of Sarah Everard – the court was told.
Police were alerted to the content Challinor had sent his neighbour and he was arrested. In interview, he accepted sending the letter and told the police he “couldn’t remember” all the things he wasn’t allowed to do under the order.
The court heard that Challinor had also become obsessed with another woman – a nurse who runs a side business removing ear wax.
He was booked in to have her flush out his ears on March 24, the court heard. However, days before that he messaged her on Facebook saying he loved her.
She learnt about Challinor’s true past and, worried she’d be his next stalking victim, cancelled the appointment. Challinor then made a call to her from a withheld number where he made further reference to Wayne Couzens and also an issue he had with Cheshire Police.
Challinor was arrested days later after he sent her a picture of his penis. In messages linked to the “disgusting” photo, he said that he “loved her” and that he “wanted her”, the court heard.
At his home address, officers found the walls of his bedroom covered in love hearts drawn in marker pens. Most had her first name written in them. This find led police to uncover another woman that had caught Challinor’s eye.
She was found to be a staff member at the Llandudno branch of Boots. He left the woman a note asking her to go out for a coffee and his phone number. She informed her manager and thought no more about it, the court heard.
Challinor clearly hadn’t forgotten about her, though. On Valentine’s Day, he posted a card to Boots for her that she found “weird”.
Mr Dafydd Roberts, defending, told the court how Challinor holds his hands up to the “poor” actions. However, there has been an alternative punishment to prison put forward by the probation service which he asked the judge to consider.
Judge Niclas Parry said that Challinor’s actions show nothing short of a “real risk” for women. He jailed him for 20 months for the breaches.
He said: “You were given a chance. Halfway through that opportunity, you began what was to be three months of continuous breaches to that order. Letters and correspondence that made reference to disgusting and frightening matters such as police officer, murderer and rapist Wayne Couzens.”
Lifelong restraining orders were granted to the victims. Challinor was also banned from going to the Llandudno Boots store.