Former councillor guilty of harassing ex-girlfriend

Mark Mewse is a former Salisbury city councillor

A former Salisbury city councillor has been handed a suspended jail term after being found guilty of pursuing a "deliberate campaign of harassment" against his ex-girlfriend.

Mark Mewse, 64, was given a 12-week suspended sentence, a two-year restraining order and ordered to pay £804 in costs at Salisbury Magistrates' Court earlier.

He threatened to kill the woman's cats and chased her after the relationship ended, the court heard. He also sent a barrage of cards, flowers and gifts.

The prosecution had alleged Mewse's conduct had been "nothing short of criminal".

In his defence, Mewse claimed the woman was lying about the harassment in retribution for not taking her on a trip to New York.

'Selfish interests'

However, prosecutors used evidence from CCTV footage and witness testimonies in court.

Sibylle Cheruvier, prosecuting, said, “Mark Mewse pursued a deliberate campaign of harassment against his victim after their relationship ended."

She said the woman "was quite clear that his behaviour was unwelcome, however these pleas were ignored in favour of his own selfish interests".

"I hope that his conviction sends the message that the CPS takes harassment extremely seriously."