‘Methodical’ stranger stalker sentenced to over three years behind bars

HULL

A ‘methodical’ stranger stalker who made notes and plans to prey on women whilst donning a trench coat and face covering has today (Friday, 25 April) been sentenced to three years and four months behind bars, handed a seven year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, will be on the Sex Offenders Register for seven years, along with a ten-year restraining order.

Travis Ward, 22-years-old, of Grange Lane in Londesborough, East Riding of Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to four counts of stalking, sexual assault, and possession of extreme animal pornography at an earlier court hearing.

Leading the investigation was Detective Sergeant Sam Cunnington from our Protecting Vulnerable People Unit, who said: “Ward is an obsessive, methodical individual who documented his plans to stalk women across Hull as they went about their daily business, before acting on his plans, and subsequently diarising them all for his own personal sexual gratification.

“Before he went out on his hunt, he donned a trench coat, red hoody and face covering to alter his persona and was seen multiple times on CCTV wearing the same clothing as he pursued and intimidated women, who were strangers to him, as he followed them home or as they took their children to school.

“Following multiple reports, and after one brave woman came forward to contact the police whilst she was being followed by Ward in the area of Porter Street in Hull, officers were able to identify and arrest him nearby on the same day.

“Whilst in custody, Ward’s devices including phones, computers and hard drives were subsequently seized and examined, revealing videos of extreme animal pornography, as well as a digital diary full of derogatory and offensive language highlighting who he was planning to target.

“I would like to commend the four women for coming forward and reporting Ward. It is because of their bravery, we were able to stack up the evidence against him, leading to Ward deciding to plead guilty, and eventually being put behind bars.

“The streets of Hull will be much safer without him on them.”

We take all reports of sexual assault, stalking and other sexual offences extremely seriously and we will continue to seek justice for those who have suffered from crimes of similar nature.

We would encourage anyone who believes they have been a victim of, or has witnessed these kind of crimes, in any form, to please contact us as soon as possible via our non-emergency number 101. Always call 999 in an emergency or if a crime is ongoing.

If you cannot talk on the phone, you can dial 999 and listen to the questions from the operator, and if you can, cough or tap on the handset to reply. You can also press 55 on your handset to make yourself heard and this will transfer your call directly to the police.