A man who admitted to stalking a woman in Salisbury has been sentenced to 36 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, following a hearing at Salisbury Crown Court. Michael Chown, 54, of New Town, Sixpenny Handley, pleaded guilty to stalking without fear or distress and was sentenced on November 1.

Chown’s harassment, which spanned from September to November 2023, included repeated unwanted contact, sightings around the victim’s residence, and persistent attempts to communicate via phone and letter, despite prior police warnings. The victim described the emotional toll Chown’s behaviour took on her, saying, “he has destroyed me.”

The court also imposed several conditions on Chown, including a £187 surcharge, 200 hours of unpaid work, participation in a 43-day Accredited Programme, a maximum of 5 days in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement, and a restraining order that remains in effect until further notice.

In a statement read in court, the victim recounted how Chown’s behaviour escalated from what she initially believed to be chance meetings to a pattern of obsessive attention. “When I first met Michael, it was outside my house…I assumed it was a coincidence…But now I know I was wrong,” she said. “He became obsessed with me, and I can’t take it anymore.”

Local Crime Investigator Humby condemned Chown’s actions as “appalling psychological abuse,” explaining how his persistent contact left the victim in fear and forced her to alter her daily routines to avoid him. “The harassment was relentless,” said Investigator Humby, adding that Chown’s actions caused the victim immense distress and anxiety.

Humby also commended the victim for her courage in coming forward, emphasizing that Wiltshire Police takes all reports of stalking seriously and provides support to those affected by this kind of abuse.

Wiltshire Police reminds the public that stalking, defined as a pattern of unwanted, repeated behaviour that causes fear or distress, is a serious crime. For more information on reporting stalking or accessing support, visit Wiltshire Police’s website at Stalking: Fixated Obsessed Unwanted Repeated.