Kettering creep jailed after following young girl

A creep who followed a young girl in Kettering and shouted sexual comments at her has been put behind bars.

William McEwing was arrested after his 14-year-old year victim rang police, having turned back on herself to lose him.

She was walking in Regent Street at about 4.30pm on September 14 last year when 46-year-old McEwing saw her and began following her.

She did not know him but he shouted abusive sexual comments at her and made other lecherous gestures, including licking his lips.

The girl told him to stop numerous times but he carried on for 15 minutes and she became so scared she called 999.

After being arrested in the Hawthorn Road area he was charged with a public order offence of causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress and pleaded not guilty.

But he was convicted by magistrates and this week at Northampton Magistrates' Court he was jailed for 12 weeks.

Magistrates said the offence was so serious because it involved a 14-year-old girl.

A restraining order was made until 2027, banning him from contacting his victim by any means.

McEwing must also pay compensation of £250.

Response Sergeant Ross MacDonald, said: Tackling violence against women and girls is a priority for Northamptonshire Police and that means making it clear that we no longer live in a world where it is acceptable to shout at women or girls on the street.

“Every woman and girl has the right to walk wherever she likes without fear and that means calling out behaviour like this early on and making it clear that it will not be accepted.

“I am really pleased that the girl in this case felt confident in the police’s ability to help her and I hope William McEwing uses his short stretch in prison to realise this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated and to come out of prison with a better attitude and a desire to make better choices.”