A stalker who hid to avoid arrest has been jailed for more than two years.
A stalker who hid to avoid arrest has been jailed for more than two years. Charlie Brooker pleaded guilty to putting a person in fear of violence through stalking and was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on 11 June 2018. The 30-year-old had conducted a campaign of abuse towards a woman he knew between 2017 and 2018 which included threats made towards the victim in person and through numerous texts, emails and online messages. Despite the victim making it clear she did not want him to contact her, Brooker continued the abuse over several months and made threats to throw acid in her face, cut her with a knife and stamp on her head. He also threatened to harm the victim’s partner and damage her property. Brooker sent the victim photographs of her parked car at her home address in Maidstone and attended her workplace several times trying to contact her. On one occasion, he went to her house and was seen holding a craft knife. On learning that his behaviour had been reported to the police, Brooker left his home in December 2017, sold his car and took steps to conceal his location from investigators. He also telephoned an officer boasting he would never be found. He continued to send threatening messages to the victim and, after numerous enquiries, officers tracked him down to a house in Sidcup where he was arrested on 12 March 2018. Brooker, of no fixed address, was charged and was subsequently sentenced at court to two years and four months in prison. Investigating officer, PC Thomas Moss said: ‘Brooker has shown himself to be a threatening and dangerous criminal. ‘His persistent threats and abuse towards a vulnerable woman were both cowardly and sinister. He should be ashamed of his behaviour. ‘I would like to commend the bravery of the victim and witnesses who assisted us throughout this investigation and helped us bring this offender to justice.’
