Specialist domestic abuse detectives have welcomed the sentence given to a man after he admitted to a series of offences, including stalking.

Richard James Davies had already been handed Cleveland Police’s first Stalking Protection Order (SPO) while he was under investigation for several offences including stalking, harassment, assault, and criminal damage.

Davies, of Middlesbrough, first appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court in May after being charged with two breaches of an interim stalking protection order (SPO), two breaches of a non-molestation order, one count of assault and one Section 4 stalking with violence offence.

He pleaded guilty to all the charges then, as well as admitting he’d carried out a variety of criminal offences between September last year and May and he was remanded to be sentenced at Teesside Crown Court in late June.

The 34-year-old received a sentence of six years and three months.

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The Northern Echo: Davies pleaded guilty to all the charges then, as well as admitting he’d carried out a variety of criminal offences between September last year and MayDavies pleaded guilty to all the charges then, as well as admitting he’d carried out a variety of criminal offences between September last year and May

Detective Chief Inspector Karen Naunton from Cleveland Police’s domestic abuse unit said the result was testament to work by dedicated officers from the unit who took full ownership of the extremely complex investigation.

She also paid tribute to her response policing colleagues who attended the many incidents, and to specialist partner agencies who provided advocacy and on-going support to the female victim; local experts at My Sisters Place and national stalking advocacy organisation Paladin.

DCI Naunton said: “This was a very complicated case with numerous incidents dealt with by officers force-wide and the Domestic Abuse Unit pulling together all the information and meticulously compiling evidence to make a really compelling case against Davies.

“As criminal enquiries continued, we were also able to secure an interim Stalking Protection Order, to at least provide safety and “breathing space” for the victim.

“I’m delighted that all our officers’ efforts have led to this excellent result and that the victim and her family can now feel safe and protected again. We all wish them well for the future.”​

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