A stalker who sat outside his ‘frightened’ victim’s house on Christmas Day in a lengthy campaign of harassment has been convicted.
Ian Durkin denied a charge of stalking involving serious alarm or distress – but was found guilty during his trial at Swindon Magistrates’ Court.
The 37-year-old, of Daunch Close, Tidworth, had persistently harassed the woman between August 2023 and June 2024.
He sent text messages, letters and used various mobile apps to get in contact with her, even after being blocked across most digital platforms.
Durkin also turned up at her home on several occasions, including sitting outside her house on Christmas Day morning.
He would also appear at places around the town where he knew she would be, in an attempt to speak to her.
Despite being given a formal police warning not to make direct contact, he continued.
In a statement read in court, the victim outlined the impact Durkin’s actions have had on her daily life.
She said: “This has affected my life in every way. I no longer spend any time downstairs alone when I’ve put the kids to bed. I go straight upstairs so that if he does get in the house I have a few extra seconds to react.
“I sleep with the light on. The first thing I do every morning is check my cameras. I do this as soon as my alarm goes off in the morning – I have to do it before I can get on with my day.
“If someone knocks on my door unexpectedly, I am scared. I am in fear. I feel incredibly uncomfortable with men now.
“I try and stay away from social situations and feel that I can’t trust my own judgement now because I couldn’t see any of this coming. I felt like my life was so out of my own control.”
The defendant will return to Swindon Magistrates’ Court for sentencing on 19 November.
Investigator Joe Cantillon said: “Durkin repeatedly found ways to contact the victim.
“He would turn up at her home in the early hours of the morning, write letters or emails to her and even ensure he was at locations around the town where he knew she would be so he could speak to her despite her constantly telling him she didn’t want any further contact.
“His behaviour understandably caused her a significant amount of stress and left her feeling frightened in her own home – the very place she should feel safe.
“By pleading not guilty he has shown no signs of remorse and no understanding of the harm he was causing to his victim.”
