A man from South London has been sentenced to over a year in prison for a campaign of stalking and physical abuse against a woman from West Suffolk.
A Campaign of Control and Intimidation
Sean Murphy, 37, of Langston Hughes Close in Brixton, was sentenced to 65 weeks' imprisonment at Ipswich Crown Court on 8 January 2026. He had pleaded guilty to stalking involving fear of violence, battery, and criminal damage.
Murphy, who initially denied the charges, subjected his victim to relentless intimidation. His controlling behaviour included going through her phone call history and, most intrusively, forcing her to add him to her Ring Doorbell account. This allowed him to digitally monitor her movements and see who was visiting her home.
The Impact on the Victim
In a powerful victim statement, the woman described the lasting trauma. "I often cry when I think about what Sean has put me through," she said. "I regularly suffer from nightmares… I am scared that I will never be able to trust anyone again."
Despite the victim blocking his number, Murphy harassed her with persistent phone calls and made repeated threats to physically harm her. The abuse culminated in acts of battery and criminal damage.
Police Praise Victim's Courage
Following the sentencing, investigating officer PC Amy Hart of Suffolk Police labelled Murphy a "manipulative and dangerous man". She praised the victim's strength in coming forward.
"Stalking is a serious and distressing crime which can escalate into dangerous and destructive behaviour," said PC Hart. "I hope this sentence provides her with the chance to rebuild her life."
In addition to the jail term, the court imposed a five-year restraining order against Murphy and ordered him to pay a £187 victim surcharge.
PC Hart emphasised that protecting victims remains a priority, urging anyone experiencing similar behaviour to report it to the police. The case highlights the sinister use of smart home technology by abusers to control and terrorise their victims.
