Joaquim Tavares Caught on Camera Stalking Ex-Girlfriend
A spurned lover turned stalker has been locked up for terrorising his ex-girlfriend across Peterborough. Joaquim Tavares, 49, from Millfield, relentlessly followed the woman’s every move after their three-year relationship ended.
He was spotted loitering near her car multiple times and caught red-handed on CCTV and ANPR cameras tailing her suspiciously.
Victim Films Ex Stalking Her at Local Café
On 5 November last year, the victim noticed Tavares’ car parked suspiciously across the road from a café she often visited.
Feeling uneasy, she dashed back inside, asking a friend to keep an eye out as she headed to her car. She even filmed his vehicle and told her manager she feared she was being followed.
Harassment Escalates – Horn Beeps and Shouting
Just two days later, Tavares was back near the café, trailing her to work. While driving behind her, he shouted from his window, beeped his horn repeatedly, and flashed his headlights to intimidate her.
On 13 November, he confronted the victim as she walked to her car, winding down his window. The terrified woman bolted back to the café and dialled 999.
Court Finds Tavares Guilty – Prison and Restraining Order
Police arrested Tavares nearby and discovered a knuckleduster in his car door. He also faced charges for driving without a licence or insurance.
Despite denying stalking and offering flimsy excuses like buying paracetamol or changing music, a September trial found him guilty of stalking causing serious distress.
He pleaded guilty earlier to possessing the knuckleduster and driving offences.
On Thursday 16 October, Cambridge Crown Court sentenced Tavares to one year behind bars and slapped on a restraining order to keep him away from the victim.
