A man has been sentenced to 20 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, for stalking and harassment against victims in Chippenham.
Mark Bowler, of Englishcombe Lane, Bath, was sentenced at Salisbury Magistrates Court on Monday (24/06) after pleading guilty to the charges.
Details of the Case
Bowler began harassing his victims at the beginning of January 2024, sending numerous emails and social media messages. Over time, these messages took on a threatening tone.
In March, Bowler escalated his behaviour to stalking one of his victims. He discovered where she worked and repeatedly showed up, posing as other people. The victims reported these incidents to Wiltshire Police on March 7, and Bowler was arrested earlier this month.
Sentencing
Bowler was sentenced to:
- 16 weeks in prison for stalking
- 4 weeks for harassment (to run consecutively)
Both sentences are suspended for two years. Additionally, Bowler was given a restraining order for three years and ordered to pay £154 in victim costs and £400 in legal costs.
Official Statements
LCI O’Harney, the lead investigator on the case, said: “I’d like to thank the victims in this case for having the courage to report this series of stalking and harassment incidents to the police and having the resilience to pursue the police investigation.
Bowler has a flagrant disregard for people and their property, and the extreme lengths he went to in discovering the victim’s whereabouts were planned and included impersonating others. His actions were intrusive, unwanted, and caused the victims to live in fear.”
Support for Victims
If you, or someone you know, has been a victim of stalking or harassment, there are several ways to report it to the police. We understand it can be difficult, but our officers and partner organisations are here to listen and work together to support you. Your information could help bring the offender to justice and ensure you, and others in similar situations, are kept safe.
For more information on how to report stalking and harassment, visit our website: Stalking and Harassment | Wiltshire Police.
