Man sentenced for racially aggravated stalking

Man sentenced for racially aggravated stalking

A 57- year-old man who stalked two women he did not know has been sentenced.

Gary Summers, of Kings Road in Bungay, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday 16 October. He was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, after he pleaded guilty to two counts of racially aggravated stalking causing serious alarm or distress.

The offences occurred between 1 January 2024 and 2 October 2025 and were made against two women, who were known to each other but not to Summers, and who lived separately out of county.

The court heard that during this time, Summers sent persistent, unwanted and offensive emails containing racially abusive and sexualised comments.

The emails escalated in tone, with offensive and degrading comments about the victims’ race, gender, sexual orientation, as well as about their family and friends.

The majority of the emails were signed off in the same way.

Summers was identified after a parcel was delivered to one of the victim’s home addresses, with a handwritten note that was signed off in the same way as the emails. Within the parcel was a T-shirt that had ‘We stand with Israel’ printed on it.

Summers was arrested on 9 October 2025 and a search of his home saw two phones and two laptops seized for forensic examination, along with postage labels and sticky notes matching those on the parcel that had been delivered to one of the victims.

From the devices, a large quantity of screenshots of both victim’s online profiles were among the material identified, as well as images of friends and families, and evidence of physical surveillance activities.

In addition to his sentence, Summers has also handed an indefinite restraining order in respect of both victims and ordered to pay costs totalling £3,687.

PC Robert Cunningham, who was the officer in charge of the case, said: “Summers targeted his victims relentlessly for months, demonstrating the fixated and obsessive behaviour that characterises stalking.

“Stalking can be extremely frightening for victims and the escalation from online to receiving post to a home address would have been particularly distressing. I would like to praise the victims for their strength in reporting these offences and hope they can now find some closure to move forward with their lives.

“I would urge anyone who is a victim of harassment or stalking to report it to police. We take these crimes seriously and victims will be supported.”

The FOUR behaviours of stalking are:

Fixated

Obsessed

Unwanted

Repeated

If you are being stalked or harassed, please record everything and report it to police. 

If you are in immediate danger call 999.

If you are not ready to speak to police, please reach out for support from the National Stalking Helpline: 0808 8020300

For advice, support or to report stalking, please visit Stalking and harassment | Suffolk Constabulary