A man has been jailed after he stalked his ex-partner and set fire to a campervan while she was asleep inside it with her new partner.
Kenneth Jones, 64 and from London, used a hire car to try and cover his tracks when he travelled to the village of Alderton, near Tewkesbury.
He’d filled up a 2 litre drink bottle with fuel, and then set the vehicle alight in the early hours of the morning, knowing that the couple were asleep inside.
Thankfully, a nearby neighbour spotted the flames and quickly alerted them to the danger.
Detectives traced his previous journeys which showed Jones had travelled into the county on several occasions and repeatedly damaged his ex-partner’s car.
DC Allun Johnson said: “It is a miracle no-one was either seriously injured or killed due to Jones’ atrocious actions.
“His unacceptable behaviour escalated from damaging the victim’s car on multiple occasions, turning up unannounced at her address, stalking her in his vehicle and culminated in him endangering both her and her partner’s lives.
“Stalking is not flattering – it’s unwanted and unwarranted behaviour that causes fear and these actions can have a devastating impact.”
Jones has now been jailed for 11 years and six months. You can read more about this case here: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/news/gloucestershire/news/stalker-who-set-fire-to-campervan-with-ex-partner-inside-is-jailed/
Always report stalking and harassment as soon as possible and tell other people what’s happening. You can report this online by visiting https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/ or by calling 101. In an emergency always call 999.
If you’re not sure if you’re being stalked contact the National Stalking Helpline: https://www.suzylamplugh.org/pages/category/national-stalking-helpline or 0808 802 0300.
The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme gives any member of the public the right to ask the police if their partner may pose a risk to them. It is often called ‘Clare’s Law’ after the landmark case that led to it.
This scheme also allows a member of the public to make an enquiry into the partner of a close friend or family member. For more information on this visit: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/daa/domestic-abuse/alpha2/request-information-under-clares-law/
