A WARRINGTON man who created a web of fake social media accounts to stalk his ex-partner has been jailed.
Robert Forshaw appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today where he was sentenced to two years and nine months imprisonment.
The sentencing came after the 42-year-old of Folly Lane, Bewsey, had previously pleaded guilty to stalking involving serious alarm or distress.
The court heard how the victim ended a relationship with Forshaw after five weeks when they observed controlling behaviours from him.
Soon following this, in December 2023, Forshaw began a campaign to discredit the victim, with the court hearing how he made numerous calls to the victim from withheld numbers and sent her abusive emails.
Forshaw also contacted her place of work pretending to be the spouse of one of her clients and accused her of inappropriate behaviour towards the client.
Along with this, Forshaw created a network of fake social media accounts and used these to publish content further targeting the victim, going so far as to send messages between each of the accounts he’d created, discussing her and making false allegations about her. Forshaw then screenshotted these and emailed them to the victim.
In late January 2024, a friend of the victim shared images on social media of them and the victim attending a sporting event. The court were told how Forshaw had also attended this event and later used one of the fake accounts he had created to comment on the post, saying “I’m only 50 yards away from you”.
After these incidents were reported to police an investigation was launched in which Forshaw was a person of interest, Forshaw concealed his devices. He would go on to admit that he had done so to a third party, who promptly notified the police.
Despite Forshaw’s best efforts, officers from the Constabulary’s Harm Reduction Unit were able to piece together his digital footprint and attribute the numerous fake social media accounts and email addresses to him.
Even with the overwhelming amount of evidence facing him, Forshaw continued to deny any responsibility and a trial set for July 2025. However, on the first day of the trial, Forshaw changed his plea to guilty.
In addition to his custodial sentence, Forshaw was handed a ten-year Restraining Order prohibiting him from contacting the victim, publishing anything about her, or entering multiple areas of Warrington and Widnes.
Following the sentencing, investigating officer PC Charl Ashmore of the Harm Reduction Unit said:
“I welcome the sentence handed by the courts in this case. Robert Forshaw is a serial domestic abuse perpetrator and this conviction clearly demonstrates that he is either incapable or unwilling to accept his victim’s decision to end their relationship with him.
“Forshaw clearly hoped that by hiding behind a screen, he could punish the victim for calling out his behaviours and subsequently ending their relationship without repercussions. However, he, like many stalkers, failed to account for his digital footprint, which led investigating officers straight to him. This again proves that the internet offers no sanctuary to those who wish to commit violence against women and girls and domestic abuse.
“His behaviour and offending have understandably left his victim physically shaken and emotionally distressed. That said, the strength she has shown throughout this investigation, right up to the moment Forshaw changed his plea, is truly commendable.
“Thanks to her bravery in taking the step to contact police, Forshaw has been held accountable for his actions and is facing a spell behind bars.”
Detective Chief Inspector Danielle Knox added: “I am pleased to see the sentence which has been given here showing that the police and the wider Criminal Justice System take stalking seriously – we will always listen to victims and put perpetrators before the courts.
“Forshaw was determined to cause serious distress to the victim in this case and I am pleased that he pleaded guilty and was able to answer for what he did.
“For any victims who are in a similar situation and may be unsure of whether to call the police about what is happening, my plea is to please do call us; we will listen to you, and we will take what you tell us very seriously.
“Furthermore, I would like to recognise the hard work of the officer in the case and the wider HRU Investigations team who have worked tirelessly to get justice and a great outcome for the victim.”
