Woman guilty of harassment after years of 'oppressive' abuse against crime commissioner

A woman with a ‘personal vendetta’ against the crime commissioner has been found guilty of harassment after years of abuse.

Teresa Skelton appeared at Southampton Magistrates Court on Tuesday, May 26, where she was found guilty of harassing police crime commissioner, Donna Jones.

The court heard how the 65-year-old repeatedly confronted the commissioner at police and public meetings between 2021 and 2024, prompting Ms Jones to take legal action after “significantly impacting” her job and personal life.

While delivering his verdict at court, the Judge labelled Skelton’s behaviour as "vicious, targeted, unacceptable, malicious, abusive, unreasonable and oppressive", and stated that any reasonable person would have recognised her actions were wrong and intimidating.

PCC Donna Jones said: "Mrs Skelton's personal vendetta against me has had a significant impact on my ability to do my job, it has affected me personally and professionally including through my staff and others I work alongside.

“I’m grateful to the Judge following the week long trial of Teresa Skelton.

"Whilst the guilty verdict is welcome, this is another example of the levels of abuse and intimidation people in public positions face on a daily basis - both in person and on social media. Sadly this abuse has been going on since 2020 and in the end the criminal justice system was the only option to end the abuse.

"Anyone suffering in the same way should reach out and seek help and support”.

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The woman from Winchester is due to be sentenced at Southampton Magistrates Court on July 2, 2026.

This is not the first time the crime commissioner has faced intimidating behaviour by members of the public.

In September 2025, Robert Hood was jailed for 20 weeks after being found guilty of a single charge of harassment without violence

The 59-year-old, of Kingsley Road, Southsea, turned up at Ms Jones’ office carrying falsified arrest warrants and attempted to “kidnap” her using “reasonable force” — an incident she said was “extremely distressing” for her staff and loved ones.

As a result of the continued “abuse”, Ms Jones previously said she had reconsidered her office security arrangements and attendance at public events.