Portsmouth Serial Stalker Paul Nelson Locked Up for 21 Months
A Portsmouth man branded a serial stalker has been jailed for 21 months at Portsmouth City Crown Court today. Paul Nelson, 43, appeared via video link from Exeter Prison, dressed in a dull grey prison T-shirt. Known to the court as “Sinter” and “Warped,” Nelson’s twisted obsession finally caught up with him after years of relentless harassment – including hacking a barmaid’s Gmail account.
Stalking Nightmare Ends Behind Bars
On 19th March, Nelson pleaded guilty to one count of stalking. The court revealed he had a previous stalking conviction involving a staff member at the Wedgwood Rooms. Nelson threatened to post an explicit picture of himself online and made sick claims about grooming a 14-year-old girl. Police swiftly intervened and removed the offensive image from public view.
Nelson claimed he found the picture on an unlocked open Facebook page left unattended in an office, but the judge wasn’t convinced.
Strict Court Orders Hit Nelson Hard
- Nelson banned from entering Palmerston Road and Clarendon Road
- His laptop confiscated and forfeited by the court
- Victim spared the trauma of giving evidence
The defence tried to play down Nelson’s tech skills, insisting no specialist software was used to hack the accounts. But the court heard the stalking dragged on over seven months, with Nelson even tracking the woman to a blood appointment and vandalising her car.
A Life Unravelled by Grief and Alcohol
Court heard Nelson’s dark descent began after the death of his father from cancer in 2013, followed by his mother’s passing in 2017. Struggling with grief, compounded by the loss of a family pet, he spiralled into heavy drinking. Nelson has sought help for his alcohol addiction, the court was told.
Obsessed and enraged by the victim’s choice of partner, Nelson accused them of concocting the case against him. He first met his victim years ago and continued his twisted pursuit despite an earlier police investigation.
Judge Slams Nelson’s “Psychological Warfare”
“You pleaded guilty to causing serious distress to this woman over seven months, affecting her daily life. You showed up at a sports centre while she was giving blood and trashed her reputation. You hacked her social media and private emails, even monitoring the police investigation. This was calculated psychological warfare that cast a dark shadow over her life,” said His Honour Bebb QC. “Your guilt plea came only after overwhelming evidence, not out of remorse. The only regret you show is being caught.”
Nelson’s guilty plea saved the victim from a gruelling trial, but the full horror of his deeds may never fully come to light. One thing’s certain – Portsmouth’s twisted stalker is finally behind bars.
