Steven Michael Stanton sentenced in Taree court for stalk and intimidate

A Mid-North Coast carpenter “motivated by sexual jealousy” has been sentenced for stalking and intimidating a woman in rehab with the magistrate delivering a strong message.

Taree Local Court

“It stops and it stops now, with full-time jail.”

These were the words of magistrate Allison Hawkins as she sentenced a Mid-North Coast carpenter for stalking and intimidating a woman in rehab.

Steven Michael Stanton pleaded guilty to stalking and intimidating and was sentenced in Taree Local Court on Tuesday, February 14.

He was also charged with contravene prohibition/restriction in an apprehended violence order (domestic).

He had already spent two months remanded in custody following his arrest after repeatedly contacting his ex-girlfriend at a residential rehabilitation facility.

Steven Michael Stanton appeared before Taree Local Court via audiovisual link, remanded in custody. Picture: Facebook

Stanton called the woman in excess of 150 times and left 69 phone messages, between October 25 and December 13 just prior to his arrest, despite an existing court order limiting contact with her.

“You breached a clear direction from court, over 200 times.

“You left 69 phone messages including threats,” Ms Hawkins told the court.

“She would have felt fear and extreme stress that you were going to make good on your threats.”

The court heard Stanton, from Smiths Lake, had a long history of drug addiction and was suffering from schizophrenia but there was no formal diagnosis presented to the court as his psychiatrist was overseas.

Asked if he still wanted to proceed to sentence Stanton nodded saying “yep, yes”.

The court heard Stanton had turned up to the rehabilitation facility where his ex-girlfriend was being treated and learnt that “she was in a relationship with his best friend” his lawyer told the court.

Steve Stanton playing for the Forster Tuncurry Rugby Union Club, The Dolphins. Picture: Facebook

Prior to his arrest Stanton was due to start a three-month job in Forster taking down form work and, according to his lawyer, had strong support in the community and a clear “path to rehabilitation” if returned to the community.

But the police prosecutor said he already had four previous domestic violence convictions related to the same victim.

In sentencing Ms Hawkins sent a strong message to domestic violence perpetrators.

“There seems to be a misapprehension that if there is no physical violence it is not domestic violence, but domestic violence takes many forms and in your case you have already displayed similar behaviour.

“You were motivated by sexual jealousy and had to have an answer.

“It is a criminal offence to assert your will over someone else.

“This stops and it stops now with full-time jail.”

Stanton was given an aggregate jail term for both offences of 15 months from December 14 when he was first remanded in custody, expiring on March 13.

With a non-parole period of 10 months he will be eligible for release on October 13.