A stalker who repeatedly turned up at a woman's home, sent unwanted messages and sprayed abusive graffiti about her on a bus stop and roundabouts has been jailed.

Carl Harris continually harassed the victim on Sheppey for two months before he was arrested in November last year.

The 42-year-old, of Prince Charles Avenue in Minster, pleaded guilty to stalking and was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court last Tuesday.

Between October 1 and November 28, Harris repeatedly displayed signs of concerning behaviour towards the victim, who had previously been a friend of his.

The offending started with Harris sending numerous unwanted messages to the woman before, on October 5, he attended her home and told her he would assault her associates with an iron bar.

Over the next six weeks he continued to make intermittent visits to her house.

On one occasion he followed her home after seeing her out shopping and waited outside the property for about half an hour. Another time, he followed the victim to a nail salon.

"Harris has shown himself to be an extremely abusive and controlling offender who caused a significant amount of harm and distress to his victim..." - police constable George Yardley

Between November 18 and 21, Harris then spray painted abusive graffiti about the victim on a bus stop and roundabouts in Minster.

He was arrested on November 28 when he attended Medway Police Station to discuss the stalking offences. He was charged overnight and has been held on remand since.

At court he was sentenced to one year for the stalking offence and a further 16 weeks, to be served consecutively, for activating a suspended sentence for a separate matter.

Police constable George Yardley, the investigating officer for the case, said: "Harris has shown himself to be an extremely abusive and controlling offender who caused a significant amount of harm and distress to his victim.

"Stalking is deeply invasive and there are absolutely no mitigating circumstances for such behaviour.

"I am pleased that we have been able to secure justice for the victim and I hope that this court result offers some reassurance.

"No one should tolerate being stalked and harassed and I would encourage any victims who are yet to report similar offending to report it to us online, or by calling 999 if a crime is in progress."

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