A man who bombarded a woman he’d never met before with abusive messages has been sentenced.
Tanveer Amin became obsessed with his victim over several months after the two started talking to each other online.
After first exchanging numbers with Amin in June 2021, the duo then regularly argued over the phone to the extent the woman refused to meet up with him due to fears for her safety.
The tone of his messages gradually got so aggressive she had to block him several times.
A particularly sinister example was when the 35-year-old sent a text in September 2021 warning the woman “I’m going to burn your house down with you in it”.
He also sent her a message on New Year’s Eve saying he was “going to push her over the edge until she killed herself.”
And the barrage of abuse continued into the new year with Amin sending more than 40 threatening voicemails before he was arrested on 12 January 2022.
Despite being banned from contacting the woman again, he then continued to call the woman from different phone numbers until he was re-arrested by police on 10 April.
Amin, of Holgate Road, The Meadows, appeared before Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on 28 April, where he pleaded guilty to the charge of stalking involving fear of violence.
A victim impact statement was read out at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday (23 June) during sentencing, which detailed how the woman’s “world had been turned upside down” by Amin.
She added: “I was once outgoing and independent, but I’m now scared to leave my home and have only left the house a handful of times since the start of the year. I can’t sleep at night and every sound makes me think someone is going to hurt me. His actions have left me completely broken.”
Appearing in the court via video link, Amin was sentenced to a year and four months in prison, suspended for two years.
He was also made subject of a restraining order.
Police Constable Sharoon Ali, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Amin subjected his victim to months of sustained harassment and abuse, which has sadly left a lasting mark on her psychologically.
“Despite never actually meeting the woman in person, it’s clear that Amin still became dangerously obsessed with her to the point she had to block his number on multiple occasions.
“I’d like to commend her for having the bravery to reach out to the police and make us aware of what was happening to her so that we could help put a stop to it.
“Stalking is a horrible crime that can be extremely scary for anyone targeted and leave them feeling vulnerable and completely helpless.
“We take all reports of this nature that we receive extremely seriously and have a dedicated team of public protection officers who are specially trained to safeguard those who need our help and bring offenders to justice.
“We want to make it clear to victims, their friends and their families that help is always there if you need it – from the police and also from our partners.”
Nottinghamshire Police urges victims of stalking, their friends and family to seek help at the earliest opportunity, and to reach out to the various local agencies that can offer them expert advice and support.
Stalking offences are defined by a pattern of fixated, obsessive, unwanted and repeated behaviours – in person or through remote means such as social media.
Nottinghamshire has a network of support agencies who are there to support victims through the process and bridge the gap to the criminal justice system.
