Craigavon judge tells Co Armagh man who subjected a young DV8 shop worker to 'terrifying and prolonged' stalking that he should be ashamed of himself

John Richardson, aged 47, from Derryhaw Road, Tynan, appeared at Craigavon Magistrates Court.

-

-

He was accused of stalking a woman between August 15 and December 7 last year.

The court heard the injured party first contacted police in January 2025, after months of Richardson coming into the DV8 store she worked in and eventually following her to a coffee shop.

The prosecutor said it all started in August 15 last year when Richardson approached her to talk about clothing. He came in the following day and had the same conversation about clothing. On August 23 he returned again having the same conversation with the girl.

She encountered him again on October 25 “again enquiring about men's boxers”. He asked if they would fit. She said he was “making eye contact” and “asking her personal questions”.

He left and returned 20 minutes later again making requests for information about clothing.

On November 1 he returned again also enquiring about clothing. This time it was claimed he “put his hands inside his groin area rubbing the area”, the prosecutor said adding Richardson called the store later that evening.

On December 4 he returned to the store again. This time he followed her out of the store to the coffee shop.

Then on December 7 he called at her place of work asking about women’s clothing and then returned later enquiring about men’s underwear.

When he returned in January this year, she contacted police.

Mr Coulter admitted his client entered a guilty plea “at the 11th hour”. He referred to an issue over “prevarication” in the pre-sentence report. “Myself and my instructing solicitor had a lengthy and frank discussion with him. All the allegations that form the PPS’ case are now accepted by Mr Richardson in their entirety,” said Mr Coulter.

He referred to the pre-sentence report and Richardson’s background.

“There is very clearly evidence of some deficit in terms of interpersonal social skills which may have informed his comments and partial denials with Probation,” said the barrister.

Regarding the victim impact statement, Mr Coulter said: “It was no doubt a traumatic experience over a number of months for a young complainant in her place of work. There is no way on earth she should have been subjected to repeated unwanted contact from Mr Richardson.”

He said there has been nothing further and he has no criminal record. He added Richardson lives with his mother and is working full time in the construction industry.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan said the victim in this case was “impacted considerably”.

"Firstly she had to leave a job she liked,” he said and quoted from her victim impact statement where she said: “I am working hard to move forward but he has taken away my sense of security, my confidence in my surroundings and my peace of mind.”

The district judge added: “That is the long term impact on your victim Mr Richardson, which you should be ashamed of. This was no doubt a terrifying and prolonged incident for her.”

He sentenced Richardson to eight months in jail suspended for 18 months and ordered him to pay £500 compensation the victim.