'I'm 50 yards away from you': The evil stalker who couldn't handle being dumped

Yahoo

3 days ago

A stalker created a web of fake accounts and subjected his ex partner to a vile tirade of abuse online after she broke up with him, a court has heard.
Robert Forshaw was dumped after he showed controlling behaviours during a brief five-week relationship with his victim. But he quickly began a menacing online campaign to contact and harass her.
In December 2023, Forshaw made numerous calls to the victim from withheld numbers and sent her abusive emails. He also contacted her place of work pretending to be the spouse of one of her clients and accused her of inappropriate behaviour towards the client.
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During the campaign of abuse, a court heard how Forshaw created a network of fake social media accounts and used these to publish content further targeting the victim, including by sending messages between each of the accounts he'd created, discussing her and making false allegations about her. Forshaw then screenshotted these and emailed them to the victim.
In late January 2024, a friend of the victim shared images on social media of them and the victim attending a sporting event. The court were told how Forshaw had also attended this event and later used one of the fake accounts he had created to comment on the post, saying 'I'm only 50 yards away from you'.
After these incidents were reported to police an investigation was launched, in which Forshaw was a person of interest. He concealed his devices and admitted this to a third party, who informed the police.
Officers from Cheshire Constabulary's Harm Reduction Unit were able to piece together his digital footprint and attribute the numerous fake social media accounts and email addresses to him.
Forshaw continued to deny any responsibility and a trial date was set for July 2025. However, on the first day of the trial, Forshaw changed his plea to guilty for offences of stalking involving serious alarm or distress.
The 42-year-old of Folly Lane, Bewsey and Whitecross, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on August 14 where he was sentenced to two years and nine months imprisonment.
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In addition to his custodial sentence, Forshaw was handed a ten-year Restraining Order prohibiting him from contacting the victim, publishing anything about her, or entering multiple areas of Warrington and Widnes.
Following the sentencing, investigating officer Police Constable Charl Ashmore of the Harm Reduction Unit said: 'I welcome the sentence handed by the courts in this case. Robert Forshaw is a serial domestic abuse perpetrator and this conviction clearly demonstrates that he is either incapable or unwilling to accept his victim's decision to end their relationship with him.
'Forshaw clearly hoped that by hiding behind a screen, he could punish the victim for calling out his behaviours and subsequently ending their relationship without repercussions. However, he, like many stalkers, failed to account for his digital footprint, which led investigating officers straight to him. This again proves that the internet offers no sanctuary to those who wish to commit violence against women and girls and domestic abuse.
'His behaviour and offending have understandably left his victim physically shaken and emotionally distressed. That said, the strength she has shown throughout this investigation, right up to the moment Forshaw changed his plea, is truly commendable.
'Thanks to her bravery in taking the step to contact police, Forshaw has been held accountable for his actions and is facing a spell behind bars.'
Detective Chief Inspector Danielle Knox added: 'I am pleased to see the sentence which has been given here showing that the police and the wider Criminal Justice System take stalking seriously - we will always listen to victims and put perpetrators before the courts.
'Forshaw was determined to cause serious distress to the victim in this case and I am pleased that he pleaded guilty and was able to answer for what he did.
'For any victims who are in a similar situation and may be unsure of whether to call the police about what is happening, my plea is to please do call us; we will listen to you, and we will take what you tell us very seriously.
'Furthermore, I would like to recognise the hard work of the Officer in the Case and the wider HRU Investigations team who have worked tirelessly to get justice and a great outcome for the victim.'