'Trench coat' stalker kept diary about victims

Travis Ward has been jailed for three years and four months

An "obsessive" man who stalked women while wearing a trench coat and face mask has been sent to prison.

Travis Ward, 22, "pursued and intimidated" his victims as they walked home or took their children to school in Hull, before writing about them in a diary.

Four women reported Ward to the police and he pleaded guilty to four counts of stalking, sexual assault and possession of extreme animal pornography.

Ward, of Grange Lane, Londesborough, was jailed for three years and four months during a hearing at Grimsby Crown Court on Friday. He was also given a seven-year sexual harm prevention order.

Det Sgt Sam Cunnington, of Humberside Police, said "methodical" Ward made notes and plans to prey on the women and kept the diary for his "sexual gratification".

"Before he went out on his hunt, he donned a trench coat, red hoody and face covering to alter his persona and was seen multiple times on CCTV wearing the same clothing as he pursued and intimidated women, who were strangers to him, as he followed them home or as they took their children to school," he said.

Ward was caught after a woman called police while she was being followed by him in the Porter Street area of central Hull. He was arrested nearby later that day.

'Brave' victims

Det Sgt Cunnington said Ward's phones, computers and hard drives were seized and examined, which revealed videos of "extreme animal pornography, as well as a digital diary full of derogatory and offensive language highlighting who he was planning to target".

The detective praised the victims for coming forward.

"It is because of their bravery we were able to stack up the evidence against him, leading to Ward deciding to plead guilty," he added.

"The streets of Hull will be much safer without him."

Ward was placed on the sex offenders' register for seven years and given a 10-year restraining order.

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