A Swansea man has been imprisoned after stalking a woman he met fleetingly at a bus stop.
Dominic Floyd Davies, 20, of Rhodfa'r Brain in Ravenhill, Swansea, became infatuated with the young woman after a brief conversation between the pair as they waited for a bus.
Davies pleaded guilty to a charge of stalking, contrary to section 2A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.
The charge relates to Davies' course of conduct against the victim between November 2017 and July 2018. Stalking is a summary offence, with a maximum penalty of 6 months imprisonment.
Davies' case had been adjourned for sentence pending the completion of a psychological assessment and CPS reports.
District Judge David Parsons, sitting at Swansea Magistrates' Court, heard how Davies had loitered outside the victim's property on several occasions. On one occasion he had knocked on the door and asked to be let in. On another occasion he stood silently beside her front door with a hood pulled over his head. These incidents were caught on CCTV.
The court also heard that Davies had posted a syringe of semen through the victim's letterbox with an accompanying note. Much to their discredit, South Wales Police first elected to deal with that incident by way of a caution.
Judge Parsons said: "A caution for posting a syringe of semen undermines public confidence.
"With something as grossly offensive as that the effect on this woman must have been enormous."
Richie Garner, defending, said: "It is impossible to play down. The CCTV is quite alarming.
"If a normal person, to use that expression, engaged in this activity it would be quite frightening.
"But I think you have to accept it is a young man at serious disadvantage socially.
"This is a young man who finds himself socially isolated, who has had difficulties in his upbringing."
"My client’s father is in a difficult position. He is a working man but there is no-one else in [Davies'] life so his father is essentially his carer. He is attempting to bring up his son as best he can.
"There has been social services involvement and they are ramping up their support and interest in Mr Davies.
"But I can’t play the incident down. He does not know how to cope with situations and does not live in the same reality as the rest of us, and struggles to deal with emotions and understanding how his actions affect others.
"He has had no involvement with this woman since he has been on bail.
"He was clearly infatuated with this woman who had given him some attention and he had completely misconstrued. He is in fear of custody and his father is in fear of how he will cope with custody."
Notwithstanding Davies' social and welfare difficulties, Judge Parsons considered the offence so serious that a custodial sentence was appropriate.
Sentencing Davies' to 17 weeks imprisonment, the judge said: "The impact of his behaviour has been devastating. [The victim] no longer feels safe in her home. She feels absolutely terrified, and I have to focus on that."
Davies was also ordered to pay £115 victim surcharge.
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