"Notorious" Southsea stalker jailed for "sinister" harassment of crime commissioner who feared for safety

“Obsessed” Robert Hood, 59, was previously found guilty of a single charge of harassment without violence after turning up at crime commissioner Donna Jones’ office with falsified arrest warrants to remove her using reasonable force. This had caused “serious distress” to her loved ones and staff, she said.

The worrying turn of events led the commissioner to reconsider her office security and attendance at public events. She described the harassment as “sad” and admitted there was “genuine concern” over “relentless” Hood’s antics.

Hood, of Kingsley Road, previously appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court for a trial after denying the offence between March 4 and June 6 in 2024.

Hood, who goes by the social media pseudonym of “Rat Catcher”, was found guilty, though, and was today sentenced to 20 weeks behind bars. He has already served 54 days on remand. He was also served an indefinite restraining order.

Deputy Senior District Judge Ikram told Hood: “You have shown a lack of remorse, you struggle to accept your criminality and you are prepared to sacrifice your liberty for your actions.

“Your offence contained elements of sophistication, especially the production of your warrant to the victim. I do find that you have imparted harm on the victim and her ability to do her work. Your conviction here is aggravated by your previous conviction.

“You continue to show no remorse. The starting point must be a prison sentence, which is 20 weeks in prison for which there is no credit as you pleaded not guilty.

“In considering a suspended sentence, I have decided this is not appropriate as there appears to be no real prospect of rehabilitation. At this time, your fixation is likely to amount to further offending.

“I am also issuing a restraining order without a timeframe, preventing contact with the victim, save through your solicitor.

“The unlimited period of this order is granted due to your obsessive behaviour in the past, your lack of remorse and the high likelihood that you will continue to reoffend and impact the victim.”

Ms Jones, responding to today’s verdict, told The News: “The court’s decision today is a clear warning to all those who believe they can terrorise their victims, circumvent the system, and get away with it.

“Robert Hood is a notorious stalker who has insisted on continuing his sinister campaign against me and others. His tireless obsession has been relentless and caused serious distress to my loved ones, my staff, and anyone else he can manipulate.

"He has shared personal information about me, including my home address, turned up at my office with falsified arrest warrants to remove me using reasonable force, created a ring of obsessive people by spreading false information, and used anyone he could to further his vendetta.

“I hope the court’s decision will bring some sense of justice for all those he has intimidated and manipulated. For the sake of my friends, family and colleagues, I sincerely hope this will end his vendetta and obsession with me and anyone I hold dear.”

Hood was also jailed for three months last year for contempt of court after going on the run. He was jailed for breaching an injunction not to contact or post about the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) which had launched civil proceedings against him following his campaign of “harassment” towards them.