Court Remands An Obsessed Man For Stalking His Ex-wife

An obsessed  man has been sentenced to jail for cyberstalking after repeatedly violating a court order by watching his ex-wife’s TikTok videos.

Paul Belton, who had been married to Amy for 18 years before their split in 2021, had been harassing her to the extent that he was placed under a Stalking Protection Order. The order prohibited him from any form of contact, including viewing her social media accounts.

 

However, despite court restrictions, Belton continued his obsessive behavior. In August last year, he accessed videos posted on Amy’s TikTok account. Because of her account settings, she received a notification alerting her that he had viewed her content—leading to his immediate arrest.

 

On Thursday, at Teesside Magistrates’ Court, District Judge Marie Mallon sentenced Belton to 32 weeks in jail, emphasizing that the nature of the contact was not the issue but rather his repeated violations and the psychological toll on his ex-wife.

“You are subject to this order for a long time, and failure to comply will result in a longer sentence,” Judge Mallon warned. “The issue is not how you contacted her, but the fact that you continue to do so despite the court’s orders. You must cease all contact.”

Victim Speaks Out
Following the sentencing, Amy, 37, a mother of four from Middlesbrough, expressed relief but acknowledged the lasting impact of Belton’s actions.

“The fact that he’s been jailed gives me a few weeks of freedom,” she said. “The worst part is not knowing when he will contact me or whether he will show up. It makes me want to hide away.”

She hopes the jail time will serve as a wake-up call.

“Since he’s been on remand, I’ve been able to live my life without looking over my shoulder. He’s not the man I married all those years ago.”

 

Police Crack Down on Cyberstalking
Belton’s case was prosecuted by Cleveland Police, which has one of the highest stalking rates in England and Wales.

 

Assistant Chief Constable Richard Baker warned that digital stalking is becoming increasingly common and that authorities are cracking down on offenders.

 

“Cyberstalking is on the rise, and perpetrators can now target individuals remotely from anywhere in the world,” Baker said. “We want to send a clear message: we will be proactive, we will arrest you, and we will take action.”

 

He also stressed that online stalking should not be taken lightly.

“This is not a minor offense or a joke—it causes serious psychological harm, disrupts lives, and is an incredibly invasive form of harassment.”

 

With law enforcement increasing efforts to tackle cyberstalking, this case serves as a strong warning that digital harassment carries real-life consequences.

 

 

 

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