A woman was left fearing for her and her child’s safety after a stalker became convinced she was “playing hard to get”.
The mother was standing at the gates of her child’s school when she became aware of a man approaching.
The stranger, now known to be Nicky Crispin, said hello a number of times and told the woman he wanted to be her friend. Days later, the same thing happened again. The woman ignored him and continued to stare at her phone.
The 50-year-old Crispin was not put off. A few days later he tried again, this time going to stand in front of the woman’s car and waving at her.
Things came to a head four days later when the woman answered a knock on her door and found herself face to face with Crispin. He kept repeating that he wanted to be the woman’s friend, only leaving when she called out for her husband.
The woman was left suffering panic attacks, frightened that Crispin had discovered where she lived.
Speaking for Crispin, Kemi Rufai told the court that he was prone to misinterpreting cues, explaining that a woman might smile at him and Crispin would assume they were attracted to him.
“He thought she was giving him a sign she was interested in him romantically,” said Ms Rufai. “Clearly, he had misinterpreted.”
When the woman ignored his advances, Crispin believed she was “playing hard to get” and that by showing up at her home, he was proving he was still interested in her.
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Crispin appeared in court on Thursday, having been found guilty of stalking the woman in May 2024, an offence he continued to deny.
Appearing in court on Thursday, Crispin admitted stalking the woman in May 2024. He also appeared to be sentenced for breaching a stalking protection order, having gone to her child’s school in March this year and asked to speak with the woman. Ms Rufai explained he was hoping to resolve the situation ahead of his trial.
The presiding magistrates ordered Crispin to pay £300 compensation to the victim. However, he interrupted frequently, saying: “I feel I’m the victim.”
Crispin, of St Catherines Court, Ipswich, will be subject to an 18-month community order. He will be monitored by GPS tracking for 12 months and will undertake an alcohol treatment programme.
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