Stalker who followed his victim to Dover is given conditional bail

A stalker from Gravesend has pleaded guilty to harassing his victim over a two-month period, including putting his hands through her letterbox and saying “I know you’re in there”.

Owen Ives, 30, of Trafalgar Road, was given bail last Tuesday at Medway Magistrates Court after admitting to breaching his non-molestation order on three occasions.

Police were contacted numerous times after Ives harassed his victim between March 12 2021 and May 24 2021, in Gravesend.

The victim claims there were calls, messages, and comments that Ives would “sort her out” if he saw her on the street. 

Ives and the victim share one child and the pair had been in an on-off relationship.

The harassment began in March when the victim received a Facebook message from Ives, who begged her to stay in a relationship with him.

Ives then visited the victim’s address, put his hands through the letterbox and said, “I know you’re in there”. Ives did then leave, but continued to harass the victim through messages.

A non-molestation order was granted on April 16 2021, which stated that Ives must not contact the victim directly or indirectly.

But Ives pleaded guilty to breaching this order on three occasions.

Between May 3 and May 23 2021, Ives messaged the victim’s sister, sent a Facebook request to the victim and WhatsApp video-called the victim asking if he could send money to pay for his child. 

Ives had previous convictions against the victim which included common assault.

The victim had to move to Dover to escape the harassment from Ives, which caused “huge stress” and trauma.

Owen Ives pleaded guilty to all three breaches of the non-molestation order.

He was given a conditional bail under the terms that he does not go to Dover, that he does not contact the victim or his family, and that he only contacts the child via the social services, a solicitor or any other order of the family court.

He will return to Medway on January 31 at 12pm for the next hearing. 

The stalking case comes on a day where Victim Support, a Kent based charity, has announced a new four year contract with Kent Police worth £4 million to offer specialist support to victims of crime.

Victim Support, which has already been working in Kent and Medway, was awarded the new contract by Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott.

As part of the new contract, the charity will offer a tailored service to support those affected by stalking and hate crime.