Norfolk magistrates hear five claims of women harassed by men

In a week between International Women's Day and National Stalking Awareness Week, magistrates at one court have heard several alleged crimes against women by men.Our reporter spent Monday in Great Yarmouth Magistrates' Court where five men faced charges that ranged from harassment to kidnap.Norfolk Police said its central control centre received 53,000 calls relating to domestic abuse and violence in 2024. Trudy Lock, from the Norfolk and Suffolk domestic abuse charity Leeway, said: "Domestic abuse continues to have a devastating impact both locally and nationally, with reports of stalking, harassment and other forms of violence against women and girls also on the rise."
The charity said it has helped 60,000 victims of domestic violence over the past five years. According to the Office for National Statistics, police recorded 851,062 crimes related to domestic abuse in England and Wales in year ending March 2024. This was a decrease compared with the previous year of 911,248.Ms Lock added: "Leeway provides support to an average of 14,000 adults and children every year, but we know that there will be many more people that have not yet come forward for support due to the many barriers that survivors face when accessing support."We must ensure that we are doing all we can to tackle domestic abuse and other forms of violence against women and girls, taking tough action against perpetrators and ensuring that support is available for survivors."
Kidnap claim
It was Shane Cross' 31st birthday the day he appeared in the dock charged with kidnapping a woman in Dereham, Norfolk.The court heard he dragged her out of a car by her hair, and carried her against her will and punched her in the face, causing actual bodily harm on 15 March 2024.He was also charged with causing criminal damage to her possessions and stealing an item, having entered her home in the town as a trespasser.Mr Cross denied the charges and has been remanded in custody until he is due to appear at Norwich Crown Court on 14 April.
Threat to kill
Andrew Smith, 57, of Queen's Road, Great Yarmouth, admitted threatening to kill a woman following the breakdown of a relationship.He also pleaded guilty to assaulting the woman on 23 February and breaching the conditions of his bail which had prevented him from contacting herHis defence said he had been feeling suicidal and made a cry for help. The court heard he has a dependency on alcohol but had made progress in reducing his consumption.Smith was released on conditional bail until his sentencing hearing on 14 April.
Arson threat
Joshua Chaplin pleaded guilty to making a threat to burn down a house he knew to be occupied by the mother of a person with whom he had a grievance.Chaplin had been to Northgate Hospital for an injection of medicine, and later called his mental health nurse Andrew Rolf and made the threat.Neither the property nor the potential victims were identified, but Mr Rolf believed the threat was serious and would be carried out.The prosecution said Chaplin had a similar previous conviction in 2016, citing that was a revenge attack.But his defence said while it was a serious offence, the victim - who has a history of poor mental health and drug misuse - had been in a distressed mental state and was venting.Andrew Spence, defending, said: "The test is whether he intended the recipient to believe he would carry out the threat. There was no intention on his part to follow through with what he said."Magistrates handed Chaplin a fine of £200, with £80 victim surcharge, which will be deducted from his benefits at £10 per week.
Inappropriate emails
David Williams, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to breaching a restraining order by communicating with a woman he was prevented from contacting.Williams, who appeared in court on his 49th birthday, had been placed under a restraining order in July 2023 having been convicted of assaulting her.His defence said the communication was initiated by the woman who sent him a message on the anniversary of the death of their child.But the prosecution said he went on to send a series of emails between February and March this year, which "became more and more inappropriate".Magistrates said the breach warranted a community order but instead handed down a fine of £200 plus £80 victim surcharge. The restraining order extended for a further two years.
Prolific stalker
Luis Alfonso, 42, of Admiralty Road, Great Yarmouth, admitted repeatedly stalking his ex-partner and their two young children.Magistrates heard he had followed them on several occasions between April and May 2024, outside their school, at church and in a shopping centre.He also tried to meet her outside her place of work, and contacted her on Facebook and by phone.The East Timor national, who spoke through a Malaysian interpreter, apologised for his actions and asked the court's advice on how he could pay money to his children if he was not allowed to contact them.The court told him he can only contact his ex-partner and the children through the family court, children's services or his solicitor.Magistrate Stephanie Amey said: "You pleaded guilty to the offence of stalking. This went on for quite some time and caused some distress. "However, we have taken into account the fact you have been on bail for almost a year now and there has been no breach of that bail, so there has been no further action."Magistrates ordered him to a 12 month community order, with 150 hours unpaid work, supervision and a rehabilitation requirement. They also ordered him to pay £199 in fine and costs.He was also placed under a restraining order preventing contact with his ex-partner and their children, which also bans him from the street where they live, the children's school and her place of work.
Seek protection
Det Supt Pippa Hinds, of Norfolk Police, said "We would always urge those impacted by abuse to seek support to protect themselves and their families."If you do not feel comfortable reporting to police there are many support organisations you can contact."The nature of these crime types mean that everyone has to be part of changing harmful attitudes and behaviours, particularly in the arena of violence against women and girls."
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