Cheltenham’s MP, Alex Chalk, has today presented a Bill before Parliament to strengthen protection for victims of stalking. The Private Member’s Bill, which has attracted cross party support seeks to double the maximum sentence for stalking from five to ten years’ imprisonment.
This is the latest step in the long running joint campaign by Richard Graham MP (Gloucester) and Alex dating back to May 2015, when they learned of the harrowing case of Cheltenham constituent and Gloucester GP, Dr Eleanor Aston. Dr Aston’s horrific ordeal at the hands of her stalker lasted over seven years and affected her to such an extent that at one point she had to leave work and developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
When passing sentence on Dr Aston’s stalker at Gloucester Crown Court, his second such sentence, HHJ James Tabor QC stated ‘I feel it is wrong that I am not entitled to pass a consecutive sentence upon you. I am frustrated that the maximum sentence… is five years. I would, if I could, give you longer’.
Richard Graham said: “This is a step forward in highlighting to Parliament why the extension in sentencing that Alex and I are aiming for is so important – and the response of the House showed wide cross-party sympathy for our goal and this Private Members Bill. This is another example of Cheltenham and Gloucester working closely together on big issues that affect us all.”
Commenting on the Bill, Alex said “At the moment the law still stalking as a minor offence, and the maximum penalty is lower than for shoplifting. That needs to change. I want to stand up for my constituent, and people like her, so that courts can give victims of this dreadful crime the protection they deserve.”
The full link to Alex’s speech can be found here.
NOTE TO EDITORS
Signatories of the ten minute rule motion are as follows (this is the maximum number of signatories permitted at this stage):
- Richard Graham (Con)
- Jim Dowd (Lab)
- Liz Saville-Roberts (PC)
- Bob Neill (Con, Chair of Justice Select Committee)
- Sir Henry Bellingham (Con)
- Victoria Prentis (Con)
- Michelle Donelan (Con)
- Liz McInnes (Con)
- Rishi Sunak (Con)
Alex Chalk and Richard Graham’s full report on the argument to increase the maximum sentence can be found on Richard’s website here.
Any readers concerned about stalking should contact the National Stalking Helpline on 0808 802 0300 for advice and support.
