by Joe Walker
joewalker@thekmgroup.co.uk

A STALKER who harassed and followed a “frightened” student for four months has been banned from the city centre.
Obsessed David Ward, 53, was given a restraining order by magistrates after he admitted subjecting Afua Boake-Ansah to the terrifying ordeal.
The court heard the 20-year-old had been left frightened and paranoid after Ward constantly waited outside her workplace and followed her home.
When she plucked up the courage to challenge him, he said: “It’s not as if I’m going to hurt you – I just think you’re really attractive.”
Jobless Ward, of Summer Lees Cottages, Hernhill, was prosecuted under new anti-stalking laws and banned from going into Canterbury city centre at weekends, where Miss Boake-Ansah works.
He was ordered not to contact her in any way, follow her or go near her home in Martyr’s Field Road, Wincheap.
He had initially denied harassment but changed his plea to guilty on the day of the trial earlier this month.
Evelyn Hawkins, prosecuting, told the court how Ward’s obsession with the student began in June last year and continued through to the end of October, when he was arrested.
Mrs Hawkins said at one stage Miss Boake-Ansah met her boyfriend in the Dane John Gardens and Ward was sitting on a bench and followed them both. At that point her boyfriend spoke to him but unfortunately he didn’t stop and his stalking continued every weekend.
Mrs Hawkins said the student warned Ward she would report him to the police if he continued to follow her.
When she saw him again, she went to the police station to report it and he even followed her there and waited outside.
Neighbours told her they had also seen Ward in the street where she lived.
In a victim statement, Miss Boake-Ansah said the stalking had completely changed the way she lived her life, making her wary of going out and paranoid.
Before sentencing at Ashford magistrates’ court on Monday , defence solicitor Max Reeves said Ward had recognised his behaviour had caused distress to Miss Boake-Ansah.
He said: “Mr Ward has lived a very solitary life since he was young. He’s always been a loner and had a very troubled upbringing in terms of bullying.
“He has now come to terms with the fact his behaviour was unacceptable and would have caused upset and distress.
“He will absolutely not have any further contact with Miss Boake-Ansah.”
As well as the restraining order, Ward will put under 12 months supervision and must pay £300 compensation to Miss Boake-Ansah.
On Monday, Ward was arrested in Canterbury and charged with harassment . He appeared before magistrates in Canterbury on Tuesday where he pleaded not guilty before being remanded in custody.