Bolton: 'Fixated' stalker drove victim miles from her home

Tosif Patel, 33, had known his 19-year-old victim for many years but at no point did she lead him to believe she was interested in a relationship with him.

Regardless, Bolton Crown Court heard how he had sent her hundreds of messages, turned up at her workplace and at one point drove her all the way to Bradford rather than her home in the Bolton borough.

Patrick Williamson, prosecuting, said: “They had never been in a relationship with each other and nothing she said or did gave him any indication otherwise.”

Tosif Patel stalked his victim for around a year (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Williamson told the court how Patel had incessantly stalked the young woman between July 2021 and June the following year.

During that time he sent her unwanted messages, contacting her through various social media platforms, while he also showered her with unwanted gifts and put money through her letter box.

At one point her sent her 185 messages in the space of just 20 minutes.

Mr Williamson said: “On one occasion, he made the distasteful comment ‘the only way you can repay this is by sleeping with me.’”

One of the most serious instances came in April last year when Patel picked his victim up from Manchester city centre on the pretext of driving her home but instead drove her on a five-hour trip through Yorkshire to Bradford.

They then went to a restaurant before heading back to the North West and after getting into an argument, Patel demanded that the young woman give him her shoes and phone demanded she get out of the car.

The case was heard at Bolton Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

Appearing to relent he then let her back in but instead of taking her home he drove her to Chorley and kept her locked in the car with him.

Mr Williamson said: “He then started crying his eyes out and saying ‘please be with me.’”

Patel stalked his victim again twice in June, the first time demanding payment of £450 and her phone, and the next day turning up uninvited at her place of work.

At this point the police were informed and Patel handed himself to Bolton Police Station.

He initially denied or ‘mischaracterised’ his crimes when interviewed by the police but eventually pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and stalking on what would have been the first day of his trial on December 19 last year.

Graham Rishton, defending, argued that Patel deserved credit for having pleaded guilty and claimed he had shown real remorse for his actions.

He said: “He is a man who has been on something of a decline for a number of years.”

Mr Rishton claimed that though he had a degree in computer science and had previous risen to become a head of marketing, he had since lost his job after recovering from cancer.

He said that Patel “became fixated on this young woman to the point of obsession” and “had difficulties coming to terms with how he has got to this point.”

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Judge Nicholas Clarke KC accepted that Patel was “degree educated and clearly intelligent” but reminded the court of the profound effect he had had on his victim.

He said: “The harm caused was considerable, she was so scared that she was reluctant to go into work.”

Judge Clarke jailed Patel for three years and hit him with an unlimited restraining order forbidding him from contacting his victim or her mother.