Alan Coward, a 61-year-old man, relentlessly stalked his former partner across various locations in Birmingham, leaving her feeling trapped in her own home. After a 15-year relationship ended, Coward became ‘traumatised’ and disregarded a restraining order prohibiting contact, leading to more than 15 incidents between February and July.
Coward’s stalking spanned public places including New Street Station, a McDonald’s, and a Wetherspoon’s pub. His behavior escalated to dangerous levels: on one occasion, he brandished a knife at his ex-girlfriend, and on another, he threatened to kill a male friend accompanying her.
The first recorded incident occurred on Valentine’s Day when Coward surprised her at New Street Station with a gift of perfume. The following day, he repeatedly knocked on her door, causing distress. Subsequent encounters involved confrontations in the street, at her home, and multiple public venues. At the Mailbox, he even grabbed her arm, and at the foodbank, he used a pocket knife to intimidate her.
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His persistent presence forced the victim to alter her daily routines drastically, shopping early to avoid him and feeling like a prisoner in her own home. She reported feelings of depression, sleeplessness, and constant anxiety.
Coward has a history of 55 previous offences, including stalking the same woman before, which had led to a restraining order in 2022. Despite this, he failed to seek help for his emotional difficulties following the breakup. His defense highlighted his cognitive challenges impacting decision-making and boundary recognition.
On November 27, Birmingham Crown Court sentenced Coward to three years in prison after he admitted stalking causing serious alarm and distress. Recorder Ben Close noted the prolonged and persistent nature of Coward’s offenses severely disrupted the victim’s life and sense of security.