Matt Arnold harassed woman and frightened Lambourn villagers

A MAN who frightened a village community and harassed a woman has appeared in court for sentencing.

Matthew Arnold was already subject to a restraining order when he alarmed Lambourn villagers by asking them to contact his victim for him.

Paul Lennon, prosecuting at Reading Crown Court on Friday, March 8, said the order was made in respect of Valerie Self – the mother of his former partner, Ruby Self.

It also forbade the 28-year-old from attending their home in Northfields, Lambourn.

But last December 2, Arnold himself called police, ostensibly to make a welfare check on a child.

Asked where he was, he replied that he was at Northfields.

Mr Lennon said: “This was just three months after the order was made.”

He added: “Thereafter police conducted house-to-house enquiries.

“Multiple neighbours said they had called police after seeing a male in Northfields.”

Arnold had also approached them, asking them to knock on the door of the Self family home, the court heard.

Mr Lennon said Valerie Self had received up to 20 calls a day from Arnold.

He added: “Mr Arnold has been breaching his restraining order; he has been seen on the corner of her road, waiting for her and asking neighbours to knock on her door.”

In interview Arnold admitted hiding in nearby woods and Mr Lennon said: “He maintained he had done nothing wrong; however I remind the court he has pleaded guilty.”

Arnold admitted pursuing a course of conduct which amounted to the harassment of Valerie Self in Lambourn between Monday, July 24, and Friday, August 4, last year.

He has a number of prior convictions and has previously served jail time.

Zara Dickinson, defending, said her client had been in a relationship with Ruby Self and they have a child together.

Then, last July, she said, “Mr Arnold had a serious mental health break.

“Following that, everything fell apart.

“There has been a litany of offending since last August.

“He had planned to marry Ruby; now he just has a bag of clothes.”

At one point, the court heard, Arnold was sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

Arnold himself told the court: “I feel the relationship with Valerie deteriorated when we decided to move into her house.

“[Ruby] is the youngest sibling and they have a lot of control over her life.”

Ms Dickinson pointed out that her client had been in custody since last December and suggested the court could sentence him to “time served”.

However, Judge Michael Hick made Arnold subject to an 18-month community order with up to 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

In addition, Judge Hick made a new restraining order which prohibits Arnold from contacting Valerie Self, either directly or indirectly, of from going to Northfields in Lambourn.