AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Try telling people that you’re being distressed by some nut job sending you a bouquet of flowers every day. Tell them that you’re seeing a man outside your home repeatedly. Tell them that you’re getting barraged with text messages on a daily basis. Singularly it appears dismissible, but put it together and you’re provoking real fear and it’s the fear that changes your life.’
‘You mentioned the help available to protect the victim, but what if that doesn’t work? What if he doesn’t get the message?’ Stacey asked.
Nothing had worked to dampen Birch’s fixation on Charlotte.
‘Resentful stalkers demonstrate an almost pure culture of persecution. There is little punishment that will deter them. They will take the court appearances; they’ll even take the prison time; but none of these actions will prevent them continuing once they’re back on the streets. I mean, obviously don’t tell your victim that, but this type of stalker can’t be reasoned with or punished. They thrive on the chaos they cause.’
‘Go on,’ Stacey urged, still waiting for the ‘this could never happen to me’ moment.
‘They love the effects on the victim. They know that being stalked affects every part of a victim’s life – their psyche, their health, work and social life. Victims suffer stress and anxiety, depression and symptoms associated with PTSD. They can become fearful of leaving the house. They suffer denial, confusion, self-doubt, guilt, embarrassment, self-blame, terror of being alone. They feel isolated and helpless to stop it. They’re unable to sleep because of nightmares and rumination. They become hyper vigilant, which in itself is exhausting, and all this can lead to suicidal thoughts.
‘Physically, victims suffer from fatigue, stress headaches, gastrointestinal problems, weight loss, ulcers, psoriasis, dizziness, heart palpitations and sweating. Many lose their jobs due to either deteriorating performance or increased sick leave. Social lives suffer through avoidance of usual activities, trying to protect others and changing phone numbers, name, appearance, everything really. If you give me a couple of specifics, I might be able to help more.’
Stacey took a breath. ‘He has form. He stalked another woman for years, believed they were meant to be together. She did everything she could. He served time and it made no difference. She left her family and friends and moved halfway around the world to escape him.’
Silence. ‘Alison, you still there?’
‘Yeah, digesting what you just said.’
‘And?’
‘How do you stop a man that sees a prison term as nothing more than an interruption? The system is improved but it won’t send someone away indefinitely.’
‘So how does it end?’ Stacey asked.
‘It doesn’t. Sounds like your man has transferred his affection to another victim and all I can say is bloody good luck to her. She’s gonna need it.’
‘Thanks, Alison,’ Stacey said, needing to get off the phone before she gave herself away.
‘Okay, should I bill you direct or send it to the station?’ Alison joked.
‘Put it on my tab,’ Stacey said, before ending the call.
She’d learned a lot but she hadn’t got what she’d hoped for: reassurance.
In fact, Alison hadn’t put her mind at rest at all.
FORTY-SIX
After a good walk around Stourbridge looking for Jericho, Penn found himself back at the food bank as a woman in her thirties was opening the door.
‘Hi, I’m looking for Jericho,’ he said, showing his ID.
‘Jericho who?’ she asked, looking away.
‘He’s done nothing wrong,’ Penn assured her.
‘I didn’t think he had but I still don’t know him.’
Penn frowned.
‘Look, just leave him alone. He doesn’t want to be saved. He’s not an addict, he’s not an alcoholic, he’s not violent and he’s all right as he is.’
‘I just want to give him an update on Barry Sharpe.’
‘Who?’
‘Dan,’ he said, using the man’s nickname.
