Former reporter harassed four different women
| Published date | 05 April 2024 |
| Publication title | Huddersfield Daily Examiner |
After prosecutor Charles McCrerae outlined the case and discussed restraining orders with District Judge Hollins, Sutcliffe-dressed in blue jeans and a buttoned-up shirt - laughed and smirked.
The court was told how Sutcliffe targeted colleague and Examiner local democracy reporter Abigail Marlow in a series of messages and tweets. Mr McCrerae said Ms Marlow had been mentored by Sutcliffe, before he turned nasty.
It was said that on June 9 last year, Sutcliffe emailed Abigail "criticising her work" and "that was the first time she had seen that side to him and did feel bullied but dismissed it at the time".
During one day, Ms Marlow received "20 plus messages" from him where his "tone had changed".
Mr McCrerae said: "She started to feel intimidated and scared."
It was said when Ms Marlow said she could not attend social plans, Sutcliffe "became hostile."
Sutcliffe also sent an image of his naked chest.
He sent further messages throughout August and, in September, Sutcliffe went to Ms Marlow's home armed with flowers, a bottle of wine and lollies for her children. She did not invite him in.
In another message, he said: "I think we need to put our friendship out of its misery" and referenced "romantic walks in the snow" when their relationship was said to have never been romantic.
Ms Marlow told Sutcliffe not to contact her again but received further communications from him which she found upsetting.
Sutcliffe also put an image of Ms Marlow on his Twitter page and was arrested, interviewed and given a caution with conditions not to contact Ms Marlow or post about her on social media - but breached this "almost immediately" when he posted on Twitter about his experience in custody.
The post was accompanied by a picture of Sutcliffe with a pint.
In her victim impact statement, made in November, Ms Marlow said she continued to feel emotional on a day-to-day basis and the harassment left her feeling "vulnerable and living in fear of having to change routines of myself and my family".
Ms Marlow said she had to take time off work. She said: "I'm scared of what may happen in the future. Robert knows where I live which frightens me even more because I...
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