A bitter ex who refused to accept the end of his relationship with a woman secretly fitted a GPS tracker to her car during a terrifying stalking campaign.
John Minnock, who earns £84,000 a year, left the victim feeling like she was a 'prisoner in her own life' after he bombarded her with messages and emails, despite being blocked, repeatedly followed her to work or going about her daily routine and anonymously sent her flowers. A court heard that, on one occasion, the 44-year-old was captured on CCTV fitting a GPS tracking device underneath the woman's vehicle while it was parked at her workplace.
Part of that tracker was subsequently found at Minnock's home when he was arrested three days later, prosecutors said. Meanwhile, the petrified victim was left so distressed, she had to be put on medication and undergo counselling.
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Now, Minnock, of Norwich Close, in Ashington, has narrowly avoided jail after he pleaded guilty to one count of stalking. Instead, he was given an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and must pay the victim £10,000 compensation.
Recorder Mark Giuliani told him: "You pursued a campaign of stalking against her. You bombarded her daily with messages, initially on numerous social media platforms and, when you were blocked on one, you moved from one to another. You then moved to WhatsApp and were blocked and you then moved on to emails, both her personal and work ones.
"When she blocked your emails, you set up other email accounts designed to overcome the block. You contacted her on LinkedIn. You used your 15-year-old daughter's account to try and contact her. In addition to that, you would hang around in your car or van at the end of her road, waiting for her.
"When she came out her home, you would follow her, flashing your lights and, on one occasion, followed her to work." The judge added: "It's a prolonged, persistent action or many, many types, albeit over a short period of time. It's clear that very serious distress has been caused to [the victim] and significant harm has been caused to her."
Newcastle Crown Court heard that Minnock and the victim had been in a relationship since 2018 but it ended in 2022. However, Minnock refused to accept it had ended and began bombarding his ex with messages in June of that year.
Kevin Wardlaw, prosecuting, said the messages contained "emotional blackmail" and attempts of reconciliation but none were directly threatening. Despite being repeatedly blocked and using other methods or platforms to contact her, Minnock began to follow the woman in his car, culminating in him showing up at her work.
Mr Wardlaw continued: "She describes one incident where she travelled to work. She parks up at her workplace at 9.30am. She opened her car door, she found the defendant was standing by her car. It would appear this is when he has put a tracker on the vehicle. This was on July 20.
"She describes being very flustered and clearly distressed, with her colleagues asking what was wrong. It's at this point that the tracker was put on her vehicle, which was subsequently recovered by police when the defendant was arrested. Later that day, he sent flowers with a card with no message on to her. She describes being petrified about driving home in case there was another encounter."
The court heard that Minnock was arrested three days later but released under investigation. He was then arrested again in September and charged with stalking.
In a statement, the woman said she'd been left feeling unable to carry on teaching classes around the UK, had been forced to take out two gym memberships as he knew where the first gym was, had pulled out of buying a new home and now rarely left the house. She added: "I have changed my daily routines and things I liked doing, just to get away from him.
"I feel like I'm the one being punished. I'm a prisoner in my own life."
Susannah Proctor, defending, said dad-of-two Minnock worked hard in a high-earning job, had no past convictions, had acted "out of character" and had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. She added: "It's fair to say that, although distressing to the complainant, there's no threats or unpleasantness.
"He's made no attempt to hide his ID. There's not a sinister overtone. He's lost control of his emotions." Ms Proctor said Minnock had been unable to accept his relationship was over but hadn't made any contact with his ex since his arrest.
Minnock was also ordered to do 250 hours of unpaid work and was made subject of a restraining order for five years.
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