they quickly developed into being threatening
Anwar Akhtar, aged 40, of Peterborough, was jailed for three years for harassing a woman for weeks. The taxi driver also sent her death threats.
His letters to her became so frightening, including a threat to “smash” her face, that she changed jobs, moved house and bought a new car.
Peterborough Crown Court heard he first met the victim on November 6, 2018, while he was working.
Akhtar then approached the woman twice while she was shopping in Queensgate and made inappropriate comments.
Soon after, the victim started to receive letters at her place of work. This led to the woman reporting Akhtar to the police.
On January 2, 2019, officers visited Akhtar and spoke to him. Following this involvement contact ceased for a few months.
However, the taxi driver resumed sending letters to the victim. They initially were written as love letters but they quickly developed into being threatening and abusive in nature.
One letter said “I’m gunna smash your face in”, while another contained her car registration plate.
The letters caused her so much distress that she changed jobs, moved house and replaced her car.
She reported the incidents to the police and Akhtar was arrested on January 12, 2020.
Akhtar pleaded guilty to harassment, stalking and threats to kill.
Detective Constable Jenny Blunt said:
“Akhtar was clearly intent on contacting the victim despite her never once responding to his messages.
“He caused her extreme distress and I hope this shows how seriously we take incidents of harassment.”
“Justice has been served and an indefinite restraining order has been put in place.”
On August 12, 2020, Akhtar was sentenced to three years in prison. He was also handed an indefinite restraining order.
The police have not confirmed whether Akhtar held a private hire licence or a hackney carriage licence.
In another case of stalking, a man was jailed for following and staring at a bank worker on a daily basis.
Manpreet Butoy began the ordeal in June 2019 and it ended on July 17, 2019, when he was arrested.
The woman, who worked at the Halifax branch on East Street, Derby, felt “stressed and uncomfortable” by Butoy looking through the glass and smiling at her.
He also approached her while she was waiting at a bus stop at the Spot where Butoy asked her if she had a boyfriend.
Butoy was later sentenced to 12 weeks in prison.
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