Serial Nottinghamshire stalker faces crown court sentencing after terrifying former partner who took out a restraining order against him

Steven James Hodgkinson had already been banned from contacting the woman after a restraining order had been made against him, Mansfield Magistrates’ Court was told on Wednesday, March 11.

The court was told that Hodgkinson, 31, of Cherry Avenue, Kirkby, had been repeatedly violent and abusive towards the woman and controlling towards her family, prior to the incident in Carr Farm Road, Kirkby, on August 25 last year.

Prosecuting, Donna Fawcett said that he had a previous restraining order issued against him by a former partner, which he had breached on four occasions.

She said: “The victim said that she was in a relationship with the defendant which ended due to the constant abuse towards herself and her family. She said it was a very controlling relationship.

“She says that he assaulted her in October 2018. He went to prison and a three-year restraining order was made against him but in August last year she was at a friend’s house having a catch-up and he sent her a video oh himself cycling town the road where her friend lived.”

She added that Hodgkinson had sent 16 previous videos and abusive text messages, calling her a “fat, ugly s***”. Hodgkinson had then thrown his bike at her car and continued to vandalise it, shouting, “I don’t care,” she said.

“The incident lasted for about five minutes but the victim said it seemed a lot longer,and she felt continually harassed by his behaviour” she said.

Mitigating, Nicola Thorpe said that Hodgkinson was currently being assessed for ADHD by health professionals.

“Whilst he has breached previous restraining orders, this is the first breach of this restraining order,” she said. “He has a son who was adopted when he was five years old and is now 12 and that’s always a difficult time for him. He admits that he had been drinking.”

Hodgkinson admitted criminal damage and breaching a restraining order and magistrates sent the case to Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing on April 1.