A woman suffered more than 400 “accusatory” and “emotionally threatening” messages from a man who stalked her for months, Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday.

Mark Steede, 43, could face up to 12 months’ imprisonment and thousands in fines, while a prosecutor argued his actions exceeded the threshold for incarceration.

However, Jerome Lynch KC, for the defence, said the accusations against his client were exaggerated.

Steede, from Warwick, pleaded guilty last November to stalking a woman between March 31 and September 21, 2022.

The court heard that Steede and his victim had known each other previously and had a good relationship.

However, the woman broke off contact with him after an incident on March 31, 2022.

In the following weeks, Steede sent the woman numerous texts and voice messages, and attempted to call her several times.

Paula Tyndale, for the Crown, said that on April 6 that year, Steede sent the woman 65 messages, 16 of which were later deleted, and attempted to video call her 13 times.

The next day, he sent her 45 messages, five of which were later deleted, and nine attempted video calls.

On April 8, Steede sent the woman 148 messages, four of which were later deleted, and attempted to video call her 32 times.

Ms Tyndale said the messages were “accusatory, emotionally manipulative and threatening” in tone.

Magistrate Auralee Cassidy heard that later that month, Steede followed the woman and photographed her dining at a restaurant with a friend before sending her the photograph and several other messages.

Ms Tyndale said a similar incident happened when Steede followed the woman to a hotel and sent her pictures that he took of her from his car while “taunting her and harassing her”.

She said he later confessed that he followed and waited for the woman on one occasion and attempted to look for her after another.

Steede ended up sending the woman 460 messages, 29 of which were later deleted, and attempted to video call her 95 times.

The most he contacted her in a day, according to Ms Tyndale, was on June 20 when he messaged her 161 times and made 27 video calls.

The prosecutor said Steede also confronted her in person on several occasions in a “frightening” way that made her feel “threatened and unsafe”.

She said he forced himself into the woman’s home between June 27 and 28, and refused to leave despite multiple demands. He eventually smashed her phone and left.

The following month, when the woman was at her car, Steede grabbed her and pulled at her clothes before she threw water on him to escape.

On September 19, he followed the woman and a friend to a public park and began to shout threats at them.

The woman eventually filed a police report, and Steede and his legal counsel visited Hamilton Police Station on January 16, 2025.

He was arrested and offered a cautioned interview, but told officers: “Having heard the allegations made, I can say that I do not wish to answer any questions about these allegations.”

Ms Tyndale said Steede displayed “obsessive, threatening and controlling behaviours” that left a once-confident woman with “agonising fear”.

She advocated for an immediate custodial sentence to protect the public and serve as a warning against would-be stalkers.

However, Mr Lynch said the woman exaggerated to police and the court what happened, particularly with regards to the confrontations.

He admitted: “It’s very easy to exaggerate with someone who has misbehaved as he has.”

He added: “I’m not suggesting for a moment that it hasn’t had a profound effect on her.

“What I’m submitting is that she is exaggerating that impact the same way she has exaggerated the incidents.”

Mr Lynch pointed out that the incidents took place three years ago and that his client has since admitted his wrongdoings.

He added that Steede pleaded guilty even after the charge was amended to reflect a longer period of offences.

Several of the messages, according to Mr Lynch, featured apologies to the woman.

He reminded Ms Cassidy that his client was not being charged for burglary or assault and asked for a conditional discharge.

Ms Cassidy adjourned the case until September 30 for sentencing and extended Steede’s bail.

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