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16
Jun
Ripon man admits breaching stalking restraining order
A Ripon man has been sentenced after breaching a restraining order.
Peter Hearsum, of Barefoot Street, appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday (June 11) where he spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address.
Hearsum, 62, admitted breaching a restraining order on July 16, 2025, which was imposed by magistrates after he was convicted of stalking.
Sarah Tyrer, prosecuting, said the incident took place on Ripon’s Market Place when the named victim was sitting outside Cafe Nero with friends.
The prosecution said the victim saw Hearsum at around 9am going into the Greggs bakery near the cafe when he kept “glaring at her”.
Ms Tyrer said the victim, who was still outside Cafe Nero, saw him again at around midday when he drove past in a car and parked around a metre away from where she was sitting.
The prosecutor said:
He got out of the vehicle and acknowledged that she was there. He then said to the driver of the car: ‘I’m going to see my solicitor because she is causing trouble for me.’
The court heard that Hearsum then got back in the car and sat in it for another 20 minutes.
Ms Tyrer said the victim was left “extremely upset” and believed he was “harassing” her.
Hearsum initially denied breaching his restraining order, but later changed his plea to guilty before trial in April.
Martin Townend, defending, told the court that the prosecution had accepted that the breach was “indirect contact in earshot” of the victim instead of a direct breach of the order, which is why the trial did not go ahead.
Mr Townend added that Hearsum had not reoffended since the order was imposed and had never been arrested for any other offence.
Magistrates sentenced the 62-year-old to an 18-month community order which included 20 rehabilitation activity days and a six-month GPS location tag.
He was also given a five-year restraining order against the named victim.
Magistrates also ordered Hearsum to pay court costs of £400 and a victims’ surcharge of £114.
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