A wheelchair-bound stalker was stuck in a catch-22 – unable to attend court in person because there were no lifts to the dock and unable to go to the jail’s video conferencing suite as the lift was broken.

Stephen Gittins, 69, was due to appear before Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday to be sentenced for stalking his ex-partner by bombarding her with calls, turning up at her workplace and stables, and leaving unwanted presents.

But defence counsel Kellie Enever said her client had not been brought from HMP Bullingdon, near Bicester.

“He requires a wheelchair and the court cannot facilitate that. When the court the made the enquiries to have him produced by way of video link for today’s purposes, as I understand it the prison informed the court the video link facility was on the second floor and their lift is broken,” Ms Enever said.

Judge Michael Gledhill KC adjourned the case to November 23 for a new pre-sentence report to be completed by the probation service.

Earlier this month, Oxford Magistrates’ Court heard that Gittins, of Corn Street, Witney, struggled with severe ill-health. He had a colostomy bag that, when he was first remanded into prison in August, had been badly fitted and was leaking.

Gittins’ victim said in an impact statement, which was read to the justices, that the stalking had left her feeling like a ‘shell’ of her former self. The case was sent to the crown court for sentence, as the magistrates felt their powers of punishment were insufficient.

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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.  

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

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