Suspended prison sentence for Wigan man who stalked woman for a year

Michael Aspinall, of Norbreck Crescent, Springfield, had denied pestering and haunting a woman for a whole year.

But, after a Wigan Magistrates’ Court trial earlier this year, the 32-year-old was convicted of the crime and also threatening to damage a man’s car.

The chairman of the bench said: “Your course of conduct amounted to stalking and caused the woman considerable alarm or distress, which had a substantial adverse effect on her usual day-to-day activities when you knew, or ought to have known, that your conduct would cause her distress on each occasion. On numerous occasions you have been seen outside the home address of the victim and have been seen in various places where she has been socialising with friends and family and have been seen standing outside her parents’ address, asking her where she is going and watching her drive away.”

Now Aspinall has now been given a six-month prison term albeit suspended for two years.

He must complete 20 days’ rehab activities and 80 hours’ unpaid work, and pay £500 compensation to his female victim.

There is also a two-year restraining order against his approaching his victims nor entering several named Wigan streets.