Aggressive serial stalker from Bude has been banned from speaking to any women or girls

An aggressive bully has been banned by the courts from speaking to any woman or girls after a series of incidents and making sexual comments in a Cornish town. Gary McGill was also locked up and banned from a street and two businesses in Bude.

McGill, 61, was also given a Criminal Behavior Order and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order after police officers received several reports late last year of a man being verbally aggressive and who made sexual remarks to women. The reports began in November 2023 and officers identified McGill with the help of members of the local community.

He was arrested and later released on conditional bail but continued to repeat his behaviour. He was later re-arrested for other offenses and breaching bail and was remanded in custody by the courts before sentencing.

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McGill was convicted and sentenced for five counts of threatening, abusive, insulting words or behavior likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress. Appearing at Truro Crown Court on May 21, he was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison and a Criminal Behavior Order (CBO), in addition to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which was handed down in February.

Local manager PC Nina Sargent said: “McGill was unknown to the local police in the early stages of this investigation and with the help and support of the community, particularly on Facebook, we were able to identify him and support the victims.

“With the continued support of the community providing evidence and reporting incidents, we were able to get the Sexual Harm Prevention Order out of a conviction. I am pleased with the outcome of the court for the sake of the victims – Violence against women and girls is a force priority and will not be tolerated.”

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PC Sargent added: “I am proud to have become part of the Bude community and I hope this result gives some reassurance to those who were previously concerned about reporting such issues to the police.”

The Criminal Behavior Order bans McGill from certain areas of Bude for three years (until 21 May 2027).

• Entering the Strand area of ​​Bude.
• Entering two premises on Belle Vue and the Strand.

At a hearing in February, McGill was granted a sexual-harm prevention order by the courts. The order is in force for five years (until February 13, 2029) and prohibits them from:

• Having any contact or communication of any kind with any female under the age of 16, other than with the consent of an adult or social worker.
• Intentionally pursues any female or group of females.
• Address any single woman specifically, other than when it is accidental and cannot reasonably be avoided in the course of everyday legal life.
• Stay in contact with or communicate with any woman who has made it clear that she does not want such contact.

Superintendent Rob Youngman, local police commander for East Cornwall said: “Firstly, I would like to commend the courage of the victims in coming forward. Also for the support of our partner agencies including the Crown Prosecution Service, the local community and the Bude Borough Policing Team for putting the community first in the progress of the offenses and criminal orders for Gary McGill.

“Our policing style and message is simple, if you behave in this way in our communities we will direct our resources and take action. The results demonstrated in this case should act as a strong deterrent.”

Complete Offenses:

On 16 November 2023, at The Alchemist Jewelers in Bude, with intent to harass, alarm or distress a woman, used threatening, abusive or insulting words or behavior or disorderly behaviour, thereby causing that person or another to harass, alarm or stress.

On the following day, in Belle Vue, Bude, with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress to two other women, used threatening, abusive or insulting words or behavior or disorderly conduct, thereby causing that person or another harassment, alarm or suffering.

Also on 9 November 2023, at The Crescent in Bude, with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress to a woman, used threatening, abusive or insulting words or behavior or disorderly behaviour, thereby causing that person or another harassment, alarm or distress stress. On the same date, he committed a similar offense in the Beauty Salon on the Strand in Bude.

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