AMENDMENT - Man sentenced after admitting to stalking a woman

Below is an amendment to a previous broadcast sent 13.03.26 - 

A 41-year-old man from Halesworth has been handed a suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to stalking a woman.

Antony McCallum, of Hall Road in Halesworth, appeared at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on Monday 2 March where he was sentenced to 12 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

He initially denied the charge before pleading guilty at an earlier hearing.

McCallum was made subject to a two-year restraining order and was given a 12-month community order, including 100 hours of unpaid work, and 15 days of rehabilitation activity. He was also ordered to pay costs and charges totalling £554.

The court heard that McCallum was known to the victim, and that he persistently contacted her over phone. He would turn up unannounced and uninvited at her home address and place of work.

Despite her repeated requests to leave her alone, he continued to contact her, demanding that she speak to him and insisting to know who she was with.

The harassment also included threatening her, as well as attempts to smear her reputation.

In her victim statement, the victim said: “I’ve been left traumatised, and constantly living in fear, waking up so stressed I can barely function, and at the end of the day, unable to sleep due to the nightmares and fear of him turning up while I sleep… . 

Even travelling out of the county didn’t bring peace, I saw a car that looked like his, 4 hours away from home and immediately panicked. The fear is constant...”

Following the sentencing, investigating officer PC Graham said: “McCallum’s conduct demonstrates the unrelenting and obsessive behaviour that characterises stalking.

“Stalking can be an isolating and distressing crime, which can escalate into dangerous and destructive behaviour. I would like to praise the victim’s strength and courage in reporting the offences to police and seeing the investigation through to the end.

“I would urge anyone who is a victim of harassment or stalking to report it to police. We take these crimes seriously and victims will be supported.”

The FOUR behaviours of stalking are:

Fixated

Obsessed

Unwanted

Repeated

If you are being stalked or harassed, please record everything and report it to police. 

If you are in immediate danger call 999.

If you are not ready to speak to police, please reach out for support from the National Stalking Helpline: 0808 8020300

For advice, support or to report stalking, please visit Stalking and harassment | Suffolk Constabulary