West Berkshire harassment victim would welcome 'Clare's Law'
Between October 2009 and July 2011, Tracey Williams and her daughter, now aged 18, were sent abusive and threatening messages via Facebook, MSN and text.
It wasn’t until last July that Miss Williams (pictured far right with her friend Kate Beal) was finally able to discover the identity of the harasser.
The man, a former patient at Thornford Park Hospital, Thatcham, was subsequently sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, following a hearing at Newbury Magistrates’ Court last August.
Since her ordeal, Miss Williams has backed a national campaign to give people the right to ask for information about the criminal records of partners.
The scheme, known as Clare's Law, named after Manchester woman Clare Wood, who was murdered by a former boyfriend in 2009, will now be trialled in neighbouring Wiltshire, Greater Manchester, Nottinghamshire, and Gwent.
Miss Williams, who has helped Miss Woods’ mother and father with their initiative, has now started her own campaign to begin a pilot scheme in Reading.
The 35-year-old, who only discovered her harasser’s sexual convictions when she found his care plans, said: “The messages became more violent, aggressive and more regular, but I didn’t want the sender to think I was scared, even though I felt sick, intimidated and frightened.”
Miss Williams, who is pictured right, with her friend and fellow campaigner, Kate Beal, left, says that her life has been turned upside down by the harassment.
“It’s been horrendous,” she said. “We’ve had to change our lives, we had to change where we lived.
“Safety is now my number one priority.”
Labour Party MP for Salford and Eccles and leading campaigner for Clare’s Law, Hazel Blears, said: “I fully back Tracey’s campaign for the introduction of Clare’s Law in Reading. She has campaigned tirelessly on this issue and wants to try and prevent domestic violence before it occurs. Her determination is to be commended and I hope that the Home Secretary takes notice of the desire for Clare’s Law in Reading, and considers amending the law.”
To find out more about Miss Williams’ campaign, visit Facebook and search ‘Clare’s Law Reading’.