A woman who endured a two-year stalking ordeal has spoken out ahead of her stalker being sentenced later this year.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was bombarded by messages from 18-years-old by her stalker Kyriakos Loizou who turned up at her place of work and repeatedly ignored her requests to be left alone.

Loizou, who moved from Cyprus to Newcastle in 2019 to start University, even set up new social media accounts under fake names to message his victim after she blocked him.

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The student was even warned to leave his victim alone in an encounter with her dad, but later sent messages to her complaining “this is not how I wanted to meet your father for the first time.”

Officers eventually found him in one of the spots he would visit to try to see his victim and he was taken into custody.

He was remanded in custody and plead guilty to witness intimidation at Newcastle Magistrates Court on January 11 where he was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment and given a two-year restraining order.

But in February, just a month after he was released, he approached his victim after a chance meeting near her home and was arrested again.

He is now due to be sentenced later this year after he admitted Stalking Involving Fear of Serious Alarm or Distress back at that same court earlier this month.

During the case a statement from his victim was read in court, outlining the horrific toll the ordeal has had on her health.

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She said: “I have had strong feelings of depression which has had a significant impact on my life overall. Strong feelings of low moods and anxiousness have had a detrimental impact on my ability to focus on my studies, work life and personal life.

“One year ago, it became clear that the stalking was going to persist and as a result extended my feelings of depression.

“Sleep has also become very difficult as I struggle to relax enough to go to sleep and on multiple occasions have experienced vivid nightmares which involve my stalker.”

Speaking after the hearing, PC David Bowley, the officer in charge of the case reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to protecting vulnerable victims.

He said: “Loizou subjected his victim to an horrific ordeal causing her mental and physical health to suffer because of his persistent, obstinate and obsessive actions.

“I am pleased he has admitted his guilt before the court, and await his sentencing. Our criminal justice system takes offences like stalking seriously, and sees the threat people like Loizou pose to their victims. 

“No one should ever have to go through something like this, and I would like to commend the bravery and courage shown by the victim throughout these proceedings, and during what was an incredibly distressing time. I hope today’s sentencing can bring her some closure as she now begins a new chapter of her life.

“As a Force we will do all we can to support victims of stalking and harassment and bring perpetrators to justice. With the support of our partners in the criminal justice system, we will continue to put offenders before the courts, support victims and tackle this type of abhorrent criminality.”

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