A MAN from Mayland who received one of Essex Police's first stalking protection orders has been jailed for his campaign of harassment against a woman and people close to her.

Jack Powell, 29, of Tern Close, received two 27-month concurrent sentences for breaching a non-molestation order at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday (10 August).

He received two 20-month sentences for further breaches of a non-molestation order, four months for stalking, three months for two counts of harassment and one count of stalking and assault by beating and two months for causing wasteful employment of police, all to run concurrently.

Powell was made subject to indefinite restraining orders and he has made been subject of a five-year stalking protection order.

Powell subjected a woman to harassment between 1 January 2019 and 15 December 2019. The woman made numerous reports to police which were investigated, but fell short of the evidential standard to secure a prosecution.

However, in November 2019, she took further action by reporting this abuse and securing a non-molestation order through the courts.

Over a 11 month period, Powell's behaviour had a substantial adverse effect on the woman's usual day-to-day activities – he posted multiple social media posts aimed at attacking her, threatened to damage her car, sent malicious messages and unwanted emails and voice notes.

The abuse included sending unwanted flowers and fast food deliveries to her address, which she had to pay for, a false report to police and threats to harm himself.

Powell even sent two letters from prison while he was on remand, harassed people close to the woman and assaulted a social worker who was trying to help him.

Detective Constable Steven King, of Essex Police, said: "This week a domestic abuser has been sent to prison and there are orders in place that will restrict his activities and movements once he is released."

Stalking Protection Order

The Stalking Protection Order placed on Powell prohibits him from contacting the woman and other family members directly or indirectly, prohibits him from entering the woman's address and locations she is residing at and prohibits him from making reference to her on social media or creating any profiles on social media or on dating sites in the names of other people.

The order prohibits him from having a phone that he hasn't declared to police or any device that can't retain the history of his internet use. He must make his devices immediately available upon request by police, is banned from deleting any internet or chat history and he must give police access to social media accounts, phones, computers, tablets – including passwords and usernames – when required.

Powell must give the exact location of any device he has used within 90 days which are not in his possession or control, inform the owner of any device he is about to use of his restrictions under the order and he must allow police access to his home upon request.

Lastly, he must give the details of any email address he has used or created within three days.

The victim tells other victim of domestic abuse to speak out

The victim in the case said: "At first I felt as though no-one was listening to me and when the other side is telling you it's your fault, you really start to believe it is.

"I could never gather enough evidence, or I felt bad for my ex-partner every time he promised it would stop, but it started again and got worse and worse. Finally, I could not take any more so with my amazing domestic violence worker and my supportive family and friends I decided I had to do something and thankfully Essex Police started listening to me because of DC King.

"I am so grateful to everyone who helped me and did everything in their power to protect me and my children. Domestic violence and mental abuse is one of the hardest situations I have ever been through and even harder to break the cycle, but if anyone else is going through the same situation just keep fighting.

"The truth always comes out in the end and make sure you don't stop until you're heard."