Actress’ stalker, who started fire in her drive, jailed for seven years
A STALKER who started a fire in the driveway of Loose Women star Denise Welch’s home and left her “terrified” has been jailed for seven years and seven months.
The former Coronation Street actress gave evidence over videolink from the US as Toraq Wyngard, 64, was sentenced at Chester Crown Court yesterday.
She said: “It has changed my life. I have a wonderful life and this man has permanently scarred it.”
The court was told that just before 11pm on September 19 2020 Wyngard started a fire in a skip outside the home Welch shares with her husband, Lincoln Townley, in Wilmslow, Cheshire.
The court was told that £4,285 of damage was caused by the blaze, which spread to the garage.
Gareth Bellis, prosecuting, said CCTV showed a man in a distinctive baseball cap appearing to pour an accelerant into the skip and set it alight. Wyngard was later arrested nearby wearing the cap, covered in metallic pin badges, and police discovered a 4in kitchen knife in his rucksack.
On February 10 2021, while Wyngard was released under investigation, Ms Welch and Mr Townley discovered the words “Witch” and “Pimp” scrawled on their front gate. CCTV showed Wyngard writing the graffiti.
Wyngard, of Cannon Street, Salford, pleaded guilty last September to stalking, causing serious alarm or distress, between September 18 2020 and February 11 2021. He also admitted charges of possession of a knife, criminal damage, and arson.
His sentencing was delayed after he later attempted to change his pleas. His application to change his pleas was rejected but Louise Cowen, defending, said Wyngard maintained he was not guilty. She said he suffered from bipolar affective disorder and had been failing to take his medication.
Sentencing Wyngard, Judge Michael Leeming said: “You have expressed not a single word of regret, not a single word of concern for your victims at all. Your only concern is for your own interests.”