Man in his 50s jailed after following teenage boy in his car and shouting Bible verses at him
A man in his 50s who repeatedly followed a boy and shouted Bible verses at him has been jailed for 29 weeks.
Paul Davey was jailed after breaching an order which prohibited him from contacted anyone under the age of 18.
He admitted the breach and also pleaded guilty to harassment of the victim - a teenage boy.
North Yorkshire Police said the 57-year-old followed the boy over a period of several months, driving alongside him as he walked along the street, on occasions filming him, slowing his car down so that the victim had to walk past it, approaching him and quoting Bible verses to him.
He had worked out the routes which the victim had to walk, and when the boy changed them, he worked those out and continued to harass him.
Detectives found around 500 images of the boy on Davey’s phone, as well as a printed image of him stick to a chair in Davey’s bedroom.
Although none of the images were sexual in nature, his sexual risk order specifically prevented Davey from contacting anyone under 18 directly or indirectly.
Investigating officer, Detective Constable Jack McCabe of Scarborough CID, said: “No one should have to live in fear because of another person’s behaviour. The victim was frightened and distressed by Davey’s actions, which effected his day-to-day life.
“Davey not only caused considerable emotional harm but also wilfully breached the court order that was in place to protect children.
“The court’s decision to impose a prison sentence reflects the seriousness of those breaches.
“Our thoughts remain with the victim, and I hope this result helps him move forward with the knowledge that Davey has been held responsible for the harm he caused.”