Latest news with #JohnHall
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
Married love cheat stalked ex-mistress to top of England's third highest mountain when she broke off affair
A cheating husband bombarded his ex-mistress with hundreds of calls and even stalked her to the summit of England's third highest mountain when she broke off their affair. The woman said she 'froze in terror' when she saw the figure of John Hall, 51, looming above her through the mist at the 3,117ft peak of Helvellyn, in the Lake District. She said: 'It was quite a foggy day and as we were coming up this steep ridge I looked up and straight away I just froze in fear. I said to my friend: ''It's him." 'I grabbed her in fear. I didn't know what to do. My legs went like jelly, I was clinging to her and couldn't breathe. I was saying, ''He's here, he's here.'' The woman, who was on a hike up the Cumbrian fell with her walking group, had broken off the illicit relationship with Hall nine months earlier. But the married father-of-one refused to accept it was over. He bombarded her with hundreds of calls and messages, turned up at her home unannounced and was repeatedly arrested by police - before following her up the mountain. She told the BBC that when she arrived at the car park at the bottom of the peak, following a seven-hour descent, he was waiting for her. As she and her friends set off for home, he chased the frightened woman in his car, prompting her to call police. Hall was arrested and remanded into custody. He was hauled before magistrates in Newcastle but freed on an electronic tag, before continuing his campaign of harassment undeterred. Last month he appeared before Newcastle Magistrates Court again where he pleaded guilty to stalking and was sentenced to five and a half months in jail. But he was released just two days later on licence because of time spent on remand. His unnamed victim, who is in her late 30s and from Tyneside, claimed she moved into a women's refuge and quit her job because of Hall's terrifying behaviour. She said she was 'gutted' at the short prison term and called for tougher sentences to prevent other women suffering the same ordeal. 'I have been in fear of my life,' she said. 'Something needs to change.' Hall, who works at a Greggs bakery, started a relationship with the woman in 2021. But she became suspicious when he suggested they keep it a secret and a few months later discovered he was married with a child. He promised to leave his wife and the couple moved in together for a period, but he went back to his marriage and eventually, after more than two years, the woman decided to end their affair for good, in January last year. However, Hall took the break-up badly and continued to pursue her. He bombarded her with calls and messages, turned up at her home in the middle of the night, and followed her in her car, prompting her to repeatedly call police about his behaviour. Then, in September, he stalked her on the trip up Helvellyn. After spotting him at the top, the woman said Hall followed her group all the way down the seven hour descent and was sitting on the open boot of his car, waiting for them, in the mountain car park when they got to the bottom. The victim and her friends left Helvellyn and set off through the Lake District, but Hall continued to follow the vehicle she was in. She said: 'He ended up catching up to us and I pulled into a garage. I didn't indicate, I was driving at 60mph and I left it until the very last second and pulled into a garage forecourt. 'I waited before carrying on with my journey but I ran into a line of traffic and saw there was a car driving slowly at the front. 'The car pulled into a layby and as I went past I realised it was him and he began following me again, this time all the way to Northumberland. 'I dialled 999 and the police said they were coming straight out to arrest him and he was caught. 'This was probably the 10th or 11th time he had been arrested and he was finally remanded in custody.' After four weeks on remand, Hall admitted stalking and was given a community order and a restraining order at Newcastle Magistrates' Court. He was also ordered to wear an electronic tag but managed to rip it off and sent the victim a picture of it in his hand. Then, in February he called her 54 times in two days and also sent her messages and a photo, in breach of the restraining order. He was arrested again and remanded in custody. Last month he appeared again before magistrates and was jailed after admitting a charge of stalking but served just two days because of time already spent on remand. The woman added: 'I was gutted when probation rang to tell me he'd been released. 'I have feared for my life on numerous occasions. 'He would knock on my door for half an hour to 45 minutes, shouting through my letter box. Then he would ring and ring and ring and start pleading with me. 'He had me at rock bottom, I left my job because of him and I was miserable, I went home in tears every day for months. 'I would wake up to hundreds of missed calls, just message after message and eventually he would be sitting outside my house. There was one night at about 2 o'clock in the morning when my buzzer went and then he started throwing stones at my window. 'I didn't want to have to contact the police but it got worse, he started following me, knowing I would be driving down certain streets at certain times and he would be sitting waiting in his car. 'Something needs to be changed when it comes to this kind of behaviour. All I want is some peace.' Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips said the Government was reviewing stalking legislation in a bid to reduce violence against women and girls by 50 per cent in 10 years Jess Phillips, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, said her thoughts were with the victim and 'all those affected by this deeply distressing case'. 'Stalking is a terrifying and insidious crime that robs victims of their freedom and safety,' she said. 'That's why we are taking decisive action to protect victims and ensure perpetrators face real and lasting consequences.' She said there were plans to strengthen Protection Orders and stalking legislation was being reviewed so the police could 'crack down on dangerous perpetrators and more victims get the support they deserve. 'These measures are part of our ambitious mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade,' she added.
BBC News
6 days ago
- BBC News
North East stalking victim pursued up mountain by obsessed ex
When Michelle met John Hall she thought he was the one, until she learned he was married. With a heavy heart, she ended the relationship little realising the relentless lengths he would go to stalk her, including following her up one of England's highest mountains. In September 2024 Michelle was hiking up Helvellyn in the Lake District with a walking group, when she noticed him. "It was a foggy day and we were walking up the mountain when out of the fog I see this man," she said. "It's him. I said to my friend 'it's him'."My legs went like jelly, I felt like I couldn't breathe." The relationship had begun in 2021 when they met at work and became close enjoying walks together and going out for meals. Michelle was not suspicious when he suggested they keep their relationship a secret from colleagues, as it was "something just for them". However, she was shattered when a colleague asked if she knew her new boyfriend was ended the affair, but Hall tried to get her to change her mind claiming he and his wife were like "brother and sister".Then a pattern of behaviour began when he moved in with Michelle, but would leave a week later and go back to his wife. After several months of upheaval, Michelle ended the relationship for good. What followed was an ongoing campaign of stalking that led to her quitting her job and living in a women's said she quit her flat after Hall would turn up during the night after bombarding her with texts and phone would throw stones at her window when she did not answer the door. Michelle says she feared for her life on several occasions and often thought: 'Is this the day he's going to do something?' Recalling being followed on her trip to the Lake District, she said: "He followed us for seven hours."When we got back to the car park he was sitting on the boot of his car."She said she had tried to stall him by going to a pub, but he was still there hours later. "We decided we'd have to leave so I got into my car and drove past him - he was staring at me as I drove past."Her friend rang her as she drove away and warned her that her stalker was driving behind her. She pulled into a petrol station, waited then resumed her journey only to discover Hall was driving in front of her. "Cars were overtaking him and he pulled into a lay-by then when I went past he pulled out behind me."I rang the police to report him again and they told me to drive to the police station." When Michelle called the police after being followed up the mountain she had not seen Hall for several months. He was arrested and remanded in custody for four weeks eventually pleading guilty to stalking. He was given a community order and restraining order at Newcastle Magistrates' Court weeks after the Lake District ordeal. As part of the order he was electronically tagged, however he managed to rip it off and sent Michelle a picture of it in his hand."When he was on remand I was so relieved but also felt so guilty and felt like I had to tell people he wasn't a bad guy even after everything he had done to me," Michelle says. But the torment continued. Hall would phone constantly from withheld numbers. He would watch her Tik Tok videos and message her on the app, she says. He was back in court within weeks and returned to custody."I felt so alone."She had been assigned a Paladin case worker a - national charity that supports victims of stalking - and stayed in the refuge about 25 miles from her home. In July 2025 Hall appeared at Newcastle Magistrates' Court where he pleaded guilty to stalking and was sentenced to five and a half months in prison. After two days he was released on licence because of time spent on says she was "gutted" when the probation service rang to tell he breached the terms of the licence and was sent back to prison to serve the rest of his sentence. "Something has to be done to stop this type of behaviour from happening," Michelle said."All I want is peace." Minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, Jess Phillips, said her thoughts were with the victim and "all those affected by this deeply distressing case". "Stalking is a terrifying and insidious crime that robs victims of their freedom and safety," she said. "That's why we are taking decisive action to protect victims and ensure perpetrators face real and lasting consequences."She also said that there were plans to strengthen protection orders and stalking legislation was being reviewed so the police could "crack down on dangerous perpetrators and ensure more victims get the support they deserve"."These measures are part of our ambitious mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade," she added. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
The Guardian
05-08-2025
- General
- The Guardian
John Hall obituary
My friend John Hall, who has died aged 80, was a senior lecturer and later vice-principal at Dartington College of Arts in Devon, where in 1994 he helped to create one of the UK's first degrees in performance writing. He was also a published poet, with a collection of poems, Between the Cities, that appeared in 1968, followed regularly by others until 1981, all of them exhibiting a combination of sharp observation and rueful candour. John was born in Broken Hill (now Kabwe) in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), to Rachel (nee Gartside-Tippinge), a translator, and Sir Douglas Hall, a British colonial administrator. His early upbringing was initially in a remote setting: the family's nearest neighbours were 25 miles away and the closest cinema and doctor were 77 miles away. John and his elder sisters, Ruth and Marion, were the only non-missionary children at Sakeji boarding school. At 13 he was sent to England, where he finished his secondary schooling at Dover college in Kent. In 1965 he began an English degree at Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, where his tutors were the poets JH Prynne and Andrew Crozier. John's cadences were there from the start, and Between the Cities was published just as he graduated. Wry and measured, yet freewheeling and succinct, his words were always used sparingly, as in his poem from Days (1972), which ran: 'It has rained a long time / it is March 9th / there is blossom everywhere / it is not that everything has moved.' Later, an archival prose work, Apricot Pages, and a restrospective, else / here, were published. Couldn't You? and two volumes of essays on performance writing followed. After teacher training at Southampton University, John met Angela Keys, a psychotherapist; they married in 1972 and had two sons, Thomas and Birdie. He first worked as an English teacher at King Edward VI community college in Totnes, Devon, for five years (1971-76) before moving to Dartington College of Arts (now part of Falmouth University) as a lecturer. He became vice-principal in 1990. It was in that role that he led the group that planned the college's performance writing degree, a course that I took. He taught conversationally, with a gentle, gracious manner that was laced with humour. John stayed at Dartington College until 2010, when the college was moved to Falmouth, where he was appointed associate director of research and professor in performance writing before retiring in 2020. He lived for 40 years in a house near Buckfastleigh, Devon, with a long garden that shaded the river. A revolving summerhouse captured his sense of fun and his eclectic range of interests. For many years he was visited by a mysterious peacock that flew regularly into his garden. He named him Percy and the two of them struck up a rapport. John and Angela divorced in 2009 but renewed their partnership in later life. She survives him, as do their sons, grandsons, Joseph and Joshua, and his sister Marion.
American Press
23-06-2025
- Politics
- American Press
Governor signs off on sales tax vote for Jeff Davis
(Special to the American Press) Efforts by the Jeff Davis Parish School Board to secure additional funding for employee salaries are moving forward. Superintendent John Hall said Thursday, Gov. Jeff Landry has signed House Bill 57, introduced by Rep. Troy Romero, which now allows the school board to seek an additional half-cent sales tax. The state's approval was crucial because the parish is currently at its maximum sales tax rate. Hall said the bill enables local voters to decide in a referendum whether to authorize the school board to levy the additional sales tax specifically for salaries. The school board will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 17, at 203 East Plaquemine Street, to consider adopting a resolution to call for an election this fall. The election will authorize the levy of a sales and use tax, which the board voted to pursue in May. If approved by voters, the half-cent sales tax is estimated to generate about $3,000 for certified teachers and $2,000 for support staff, depending on the amount of sales taxes collected. Hall said the proposed tax would create a stable funding source for annual salary stipends for the district's nearly 800 employees. The stipends would be distributed to permanent employees, including part-time custodians and aides, but would not be extended to substitutes or voucher workers. School board members are hopeful that the dedicated funding will help the district attract and retain qualified employees, especially classroom teachers. If approved by voters, the collection of the sales tax would begin in January 2026. The state is also moving forward on plans to improve salary for school employees. In the 2025-2026 academy years, K-12 teachers are set to receive a $2,000 stipend and support staff $1,000 funded by the state. Additionally, voters statewide will also consider a constitutional amendment for permanent raises of $2,250 for K-12 teachers and $1,225 for support staff. A similar amendment was rejected by voters in March.
BBC News
18-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- BBC News
Stoke-on-Trent carer treats family after £10k-a-month lottery win
A woman who has worked as a carer for 19 years has said the "possibilities are pretty much endless" after winning a £10,000-a-month lottery Hall, 61, from Stoke-on-Trent, said she planned to keep working and treat family and friends after winning the Set for Life National Lottery draw on 8 May. "This win is incredible, I'm not sure it's still fully sunk in," said Ms Hall, who will receive payments each month for 30 years. Ms Hall is also buying herself a few treats, including a hot tub engraved with her winning lottery numbers, "I want to remind myself how lucky I have been every time I take a dip", she said. "It's always been who I am to try and look after others, it's my vocation. Sometimes I get reminded by family and friends that I need to do something for myself. "So, when I found out that I'd just won the top prize on Set For Life, I knew my one treat would be a hot tub."She treated her fiance John to a work van, and plans to pay for her sister's new bathroom and decking at her mother's home. She is looking forward to shopping for a wedding dress ahead of her marriage to John, a farmer, next April. Ms Hall put the deposit down for his van after winning but paid off the balance after receiving her first lottery payment. "If I can help my family and others out I absolutely will and that's one of the most amazing things about winning," Ms Hall said. She said when the first payment landed in her bank account, it hit her that "I've got 359 of these same payments still left to go".She added: "The possibilities are pretty much endless and I will be treating myself to a few other luxuries soon. "I'll definitely be booking luxury weekends breaks and it'll be very nice to go shopping and not look at the price for once." Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
