Suspected Dartford stalker charged

A suspected stalker has appeared in court after officers arrested him in connection with a string of alleged offences against a woman in Dartford. 

On Monday 8 April 2024, the victim contacted the police after she was reportedly assaulted by a man she knew, as she entered her place of work.

The victim was then followed outside the premises where it is said she was verbally abused until she got onto a bus.

The woman also gave investigators details of multiple phones calls she had received. She alleged the suspect had been seen outside her home and had made unwanted contact with her several times, since Wednesday 20 March. 

A search warrant was executed at an address in Dartford and, on the morning of Friday 19 April, enquiries led officers to attend a shed near the victim’s home address, where a man was arrested. The constables also seized a small quantity of cocaine. 

Neil Letchford, of no fixed address, was later charged with intentional strangulation, stalking, two counts of breaching a restraining order and possession of cocaine. 

The 55-year-old appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court on Saturday 20 April. He was remanded in custody to a hearing at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday 20 May.