GT Stewart Solicitors & advocates represented M who was charged with harassing his cousin causing fear of violence. The allegation is that M was walking in a local park with her dogs when she noticed a male who she recognised as her cousin walking closely behind her. The complainant called her husband who advised her to call the police as he was aware of a previous incident involving his wife and M. M returned to his car which was parked close by. M started shouting the victim’s name but she ignored him and she asked a member of the public to help her to her car. The complainant believed she was being stalked by M as, later that same day, she saw M pull up outside her house and shout to her “I’ll kill you”, “I’m going to get you”. The complainant called the police and M was arrested. M told the police that he was volunteering in the park when he saw his cousin walking to her car and shouted her name. M got into his car later that day and went to his cousins house and ask if she had been in the park that day. M accepted that he said he would kill for a beer and that he would kill the victim, however, he had not intended this as a threat and certainly had no intention of carrying out such a threat. After hearing all the evidence, the court found M not guilty of the offence of harassment causing fear of violence.

M was represented by Michelle Stewart from the Leeds Crime team.