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Convicted burglar who stalked mum is locked up

A convicted burglar who stalked his mum immediately after leaving prison has been locked up again.

James Slingsby was not welcome at the family home in Canterbury after serving more than two years for burglary, but would often turn up unannounced.

James Slingsby stalked his mother for 10 days after getting out of prison and is now in a cell again
James Slingsby stalked his mother for 10 days after getting out of prison and is now in a cell again

Over 10 days in August - beginning on the day he was freed, August 18 - the 46-year-old, who is also known as Jamie, repeatedly went to her house in St Lawrence Forstal at all hours.

Slingsby, of no fixed address, was charged with stalking after his mother became sick of his behaviour and called the police.

He admitted the offence when he appeared before magistrates in August and returned to Folkestone Magistrates’ Court in September for sentencing.

Neil Sweeney, prosecuting, said he was released from prison in August after a two-and-a-half-year sentence for burglary, but turned up at the home at 5am that morning.

The court heard Slingsby continued to appear uninvited, returning on August 20 when his mother gave him £30 and three days’ worth of food before sending him away again.

Yet he kept turning up and shouting up to six times a day, and at the end of August, while his mother was putting her bins out, he was at the front door laughing and then went into the garage.

Slingsby turned up while his mother was putting her bins out and he was laughing and then went into the garage. Stock picture: James Mackenzie
Slingsby turned up while his mother was putting her bins out and he was laughing and then went into the garage. Stock picture: James Mackenzie

However, on this occasion, his mother called the police, who removed him from the property.

But he soon returned and rang the doorbell, and she called the police again, as she was said to be sick of the harassment.

At the time, Steve Tarleton, defending, told magistrates: “There was no threat of damage, and the mum gave him money and food on one occasion, and so he supposed she would do it again.

“He’s got three brothers and one is a police officer.”

Magistrates ordered a pre-sentence report before he learned his punishment and they remanded Slingsby in custody.

However, when he was sentenced at the same court on September 23, District Judge William Nelson locked him up again for the crime.

Jamie Slingsby was sentenced at Folkestone Magistrates' Court. Stock picture
Jamie Slingsby was sentenced at Folkestone Magistrates' Court. Stock picture

He jailed Slingsby for 16 weeks for the offence and issued him with a three-year restraining order banning him from going near his mum’s home or contacting her.

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