Man pleads guilty to stalking teenage girl

A 21-year-old man has received a suspended sentence after he used an imitation firearm to attempt to force his way into the home of a teenage girl whom he did not know.

Daniel Sebastian Mains, of Bidders Close in Northampton, followed the then 14-year-old home from school on four separate occasions and turned up at her home twice between October 8 and November 28, 2020.

However, on the afternoon of November 27, 2020, Mains knocked at the door and when the girl’s mum opened the door, he produced an imitation firearm and tried to force his way in.

The woman challenged him, and he ran off. Mains was arrested and subsequently charged with the possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and stalking involving serious alarm/distress.

Mains was due to stand trial in July this year, however changed his plea to guilty, and on Friday, June 10, at Nottingham Crown Court, was sentenced to 20-months in prison - suspended for two years.

Mains was also ordered to complete a 30-day rehabilitation course, pay £3,000 victim compensation and £150 prosecution costs, and was made subject of a restraining order preventing him from contacting his victims

Detective Constable Josh Miners of the West Local Policing Crime Team led the complex investigation and oversaw the case as it came to court.

Speaking after the sentencing he said: “I am really pleased Mains finally accepted the harm he caused by his actions in following his young victim, who he did not know, multiple times on foot as she walked home from school.

“This escalated to Mains attending the girl’s home with an imitation firearm, and when her mum answered the door, he pointed it at her. Not knowing that the gun was not real she bravely pushed it away causing him to run off.

“Women and girls have the right to feel safe in Northamptonshire. Behaviour like Mains displayed is completely unacceptable and we will always take allegations of stalking or harassment very seriously.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the community who came forward to support our investigation and provided valuable information which led to the conviction of Mains.”

In May, Chief Constable Nick Adderley launched the Force’s Matters of Priority for the next three years, one of which was Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). This included an increased focus on stalking and harassment.

If you have been a victim of stalking or harassment, whether recent or non-recent, please come forward by calling 101 or via the Northamptonshire Police online reporting tool at www.northants.police.uk

If you have been a victim of a stalking or harassment but are not yet ready to speak to the police, please visit www.voicenorthants.org or call Voice on 0300 303 1965.

Voice is a support service for anyone living in Northamptonshire, regardless of when, where or how crime happened to you. Services are free, confidential and you don’t have to have reported anything to the police.