A former police officer stalked an ex-girlfriend by driving past where she lived and keeping an "intimate" picture of her as a screensaver.
Ian Heed, 58, was in a four year relationship with the woman which ended in 2013. But in the following years Heed "maintained an interest" in the woman by keeping an intimate photo of her as his screensaver and driving past her home on a regular basis.
Paul Cummings, prosecuting, told the Preston Crown Court that between August and December 2020 the woman saw Heed driving past her house so often she decided to move to a cul-de-sac, thinking he would have no reason to enter the road. In September the same year she received a call from an estate agent telling her Heed had requested a viewing on her home.
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The woman moved to her new home in December and installed CCTV to monitor the outside of the property. In the month that followed she saw Heed drive into the street and turn around outside her house, at the bottom of the cul-de-sac on numerous occasions.
The manoeuvre was so close to the house that tyre marks were left in the gravel on her driveway. The woman made a formal complaint to police when she realised Heed was still following her.
LancsLive reported Heed was arrested on January 21 last year and recalled to prison on licence under the terms of a seven year sentence for fraud in 2016. The defendant spent 28 days on recall and was released in February but did not stop stalking the victim.
Within days of his release he returned to the cul-de-sac and turned his car around outside her house. Mr Cummings said: "The complainant noted her mental and physical health had been affected as she was constantly worried he was going to appear outside her house. She was on edge every time a vehicle came towards the house and because she had CCTV, she was watching constantly to see what vehicle was approaching the address."
Rosalind Emslie-Smith, defending, said Heed was diagnosed with a mental health condition shortly after his return to prison, which would have undoubtedly had an impact on his offending. Heed, of HMP Wymott, Leyland, pleaded guilty to stalking and appeared at Preston Crown Court to be sentenced.
Recorder Kevin Slack, sentencing, said: "The position got to the stage where she took the step of moving to a cul-de-sac, thinking you would have no excuse to attend and that would spare her from your further attention. She was mistaken in that hope and you started to drive to the cul-de-sac.
"At the time of your arrest a laptop was taken that had an intimate picture as a screensaver. She had previously sent this to you during your relationship but bearing in mind the relationship ended eight years ago it does suggest you retained an unhealthy interest in her."
He sentenced Heed to 14 weeks in prison. The judge said given the time the defendant had spent on remand he is likely to be released shortly.
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