Cambridge Man Jailed for Stalking Girlfriend’s Every Move
John Sharples, 54, from Thornhill Place, Longstanton, South Cambridgeshire, has been locked up for 14 months after a nasty case of coercive control over his partner. Sharples demanded his girlfriend hand over bus tickets, receipts—anything to prove where she’d been. No freedom for her under his watch.
Relentless Surveillance & Abuse
Throughout their relationship, Sharples didn’t just ask where she was—he grilled her about who she was with and how she got there. Every slip-up was met with suspicion. He even followed her to shops and waited outside while she visited friends. The victim lived in constant fear, forced to justify every move.
Sharples called her “crazy” and mocked her fears, while obsessing over her phone calls and texts. So paranoid was the victim that she renamed a friend in her phone “NHS notification” to hide messages from him.
Fury Over Fake School Appointment Sparks Police Call
On May 5, 2021, the victim told Sharples she had a school appointment to sneak off and see a friend. Sharples bombarded her with calls and texts all day. Furious when she got home, he dragged her to the school to prove the appointment was real. His aggressive behaviour towards school staff led them to call the police.
Justice Served at Cambridge Crown Court
Sharples pled guilty to coercive and controlling behaviour at the start of his August trial. On November 9, Cambridge Crown Court sentenced him to 14 months behind bars.
“Coercive and controlling behaviour is a serious criminal offence,” said Detective Constable Jess Davey. “We will not tolerate domestic abuse. It leaves victims fearful and stripped of their independence. If you’re suffering, please contact the police or the national domestic violence helpline for help.”
