A Swindon woman who swerved her car towards her ex-partner and bombarded him with messages has been sentenced to a 12-month community order after pleading guilty to stalking and harassment charges at Swindon Magistrates’ Court.
Sophie Clifford, 31, of Blackwell Close, Swindon, pursued what prosecutors described as a “relentless campaign” against her former partner between 28 December 2024 and 28 January 2025, ignoring his repeated pleas to cease contact.
The court heard that Clifford’s behaviour escalated dramatically in the final days of January, culminating in an incident on 27 January when she followed the victim to a gym and drove her vehicle towards him as he walked with a friend. The victim told the court he feared he would be struck as the car “skimmed” past him in the car park.
Pattern of Harassment
The prosecution outlined a disturbing pattern of behaviour that included numerous unwanted messages, turning up at the victim’s home, and leaving a bracelet bearing his name on his car. Clifford also admitted to falsely claiming she was pregnant in what the court heard was a calculated attempt to “get his attention”.
In October 2024, three months before the stalking campaign began, the victim had warned Clifford he would report her to police if she continued to contact him. Despite this clear warning, she persisted with her behaviour, ultimately leading to criminal charges.
“I felt physically unsafe. She could cause me physical harm and I never thought she could do such a thing,” the victim said in a statement read to the court. He expressed concerns that others might be harmed because of their dispute, adding: “I pushed people away in my life because I’m worried about what she may do.”
Impact on Victim
The victim’s statement revealed the profound psychological impact of Clifford’s actions. He described feeling “on edge” and worried about being watched when talking to female friends, noting that Clifford had messaged one woman he was seeing “to sabotage my image”.
“This has changed my personality, I feel miserable and I refuse to meet anyone new so that I can avoid this situation happening again,” he told the court. He also expressed particular concern for his vulnerable father, fearing Clifford might turn up at his home.
The victim stated he had “no motivation to create any romantic relations” following the ordeal, highlighting the lasting trauma caused by the stalking campaign.
Defence Mitigation
Harriet Heard, defending, told the court that Clifford had faced personal challenges during the relationship that affected her mental health. She described the relationship as “toxic” and “the worst relationship of her life”, claiming her client had been “love-bombed” initially before pinning everything on the relationship.
“It has been exceedingly traumatic for her as well,” Ms Heard said, adding that Clifford “does not want anything to do with him” and had rearranged her life to avoid the same places as the victim. The defence cited an incident where Clifford dropped her shopping basket and fled an Asda store upon seeing the victim.
In her own statement to the court, Clifford said: “I have not acted this way to anyone else. I’ve addressed my emotional wellbeing, I take full responsibility, and am actively making sure nothing like this happens again.”
Legal Context
The case falls under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, which defines stalking as persistent behaviour involving harassment that causes fear, alarm or distress. Under section 2A of the Act, stalking behaviours can include following, watching or spying on someone, or forcing contact through any means.
According to Crown Prosecution Service guidelines, stalking involving fear of violence or serious alarm or distress carries a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment for offences committed after April 2017. The legislation recognises stalking as a serious offence that can have devastating, long-term impacts on victims and their families.
Sentencing Council guidelines indicate that factors such as conduct intended to humiliate and degrade the victim, persistent action over a prolonged period, and significant psychological harm would indicate high culpability and warrant more severe sentences.
Sentencing Decision
In passing sentence, the court imposed a 12-month community order requiring Clifford to complete up to 15 rehabilitation activity days. These days will involve participation in activities directed by the Probation Service, which may include programmes addressing emotional wellbeing and behaviour management.
Under the terms of a community order, Clifford must comply with all instructions from her responsible officer and attend all required appointments. The rehabilitation activities are designed to address the underlying issues that contributed to her offending behaviour and prevent reoffending.
The court also imposed financial penalties totalling £491, comprising a £292 fine, £85 in court costs, and £114 to fund victim services. Additionally, the court would have considered whether to impose a restraining order to protect the victim from further contact, though specific details of any such order were not disclosed.
Wider Implications
The case highlights the serious nature of stalking offences and the comprehensive legal framework in place to protect victims. Recent legislative changes have strengthened protections, including doubling maximum sentences for harassment and stalking from five to 10 years, and from seven to 14 years for racially or religiously aggravated offences.
The government has also made it easier for police to obtain Stalking Protection Orders, with updated statutory guidance published in April 2024 removing the requirement to meet the high criminal standard of proof. Instead, evidence meeting the lower civil standard can now be accepted by courts, enabling earlier intervention to protect victims.
These civil orders, introduced in January 2020, allow authorities to address perpetrators’ behaviours before they become entrenched or escalate to more serious offences. Breaching such an order is itself a criminal offence punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment.
Support for Victims
The case underscores the importance of early reporting and intervention in stalking cases. Victims are encouraged to keep detailed records of all incidents and to report concerns to police as soon as patterns of unwanted behaviour emerge.
Support services, including the National Stalking Helpline funded by the Home Office and operated by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, provide crucial assistance to those affected by stalking. The helpline offers practical advice, emotional support and can assist with safety planning and understanding legal options.
For many victims, the psychological impact of stalking can be profound and long-lasting, affecting their ability to form new relationships, their sense of safety, and their daily routines. Specialist support services can provide counselling and practical assistance to help victims recover and rebuild their lives.
As this case demonstrates, stalking is taken seriously by the courts, with perpetrators facing significant legal consequences including potential imprisonment, community orders, restraining orders and financial penalties.
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