Victim's family takes stalking campaign to schools

Alice Ruggles' family has been campaigning in her memory since she died in 2016.

The family of murdered Alice Ruggles will take their stalking campaign into "every school" in County Durham.

Alice was killed by her ex-boyfriend in 2016, and her loved ones have done all they can to raise awareness of stalking since.

In a year-long project with Durham Constabulary and the area's Police and Crime Commissioner, the Alice Ruggles Trust will deliver its powerful message to children across the county.

Her father, Clive Ruggles, said: "It's about making young people aware of what is not normal in a relationship."

'Stalking is serious'

In an effort to "change the mindset of a generation", the trust is helping to fund assemblies to highlight the dangers of stalking and raise awareness of early warning signs.

Mr Ruggles said: "It's about looking out for your friends and knowing where to go to get help for you or your friends.

"Maybe your friend's a potential perpetrator, someone who's been rejected for the first time and wants to get back with someone desperately.

"It's not bad to feel like that, but people have to move on - most do, but some don't and that's when the danger comes."

The trust wants to ensure young people are aware of the potential seriousness of stalking.

"People have to realise it's serious and not pass it off as a joke," Mr Ruggles said.

"Even when it involves no physical violence, the mental anguish is horrendous and changes people's lives."

Clive Ruggles says he wants to help another generation become aware of the early signs of stalking

Northumbria University graduate Alice, 24, was murdered by her ex-partner in her Gateshead home following a prolonged campaign of stalking.

Mr Ruggles said Alice, who was originally from Tur Langton in Leicestershire, had sought help from police and her family and believes her concerns were not taken seriously enough.

"Our advice was to try and ignore him and he'd go away and move on," he said.

"That's terribly bad advice because stalking is about fixation and obsession that doesn't go away, it just gets worse."

The assemblies will see police and community support officers speak to young people about Alice's experiences, using materials developed by the trust.

PCC Joy Allen said: "I want every adult and young person living in County Durham and Darlington to understand that stalking is a serious crime and will be treated with the urgency that it deserves."