Man Sentenced After Stalking Ex-Mistress Over Paternity Claims

A lengthy affair turned sour when a man confronted his former mistress and her husband over allegations concerning the paternity of two children. James Nielson, 41, has been sentenced to a total of 65 weeks in prison, including time for stalking the woman with whom he had a 12-year relationship.

Nielson’s erratic behavior began escalating last December when he repeatedly demanded a DNA test to confirm his paternity claims regarding two of the three children born during their affair. After three weeks of relentless pursuit, including late-night visits and confrontations, the situation culminated in a series of alarming incidents documented in Liverpool Crown Court.

On December 4, 2022, the woman discovered 37 text messages from Nielson on her phone. As she left for work that morning, he followed her, confronting her again at her workplace. The situation escalated later that evening when Nielson arrived at her home in Liverpool, banging on her door and slipping a note through the letterbox that revealed their secret relationship.

According to prosecutor Lahraib Iqbal, Nielson’s behavior continued into the following days. He was seen outside her house the next morning, honking his horn and waving from his car. On December 8, after the woman attempted to drive to work, Nielson pursued her in his vehicle, forcing her to pull over to avoid a potential accident. He then banged on the hood of her car, prompting her to contact the police.

Nielson, residing in Carriage Grove, Bootle, pleaded guilty to stalking and multiple driving offenses, including driving while disqualified. He also admitted to violating a suspended sentence related to previous convictions for drug-related offenses. He had a total of 11 prior convictions for 21 offenses, many of which were driving-related.

In court, defense attorney Olivia Bell argued that Nielson felt genuine remorse for his actions. She noted the complex nature of their relationship, which included three children born during their time together. “While his actions were unquestionably inappropriate, this context is provided to shed light on why he repeatedly reached out to the victim,” Bell stated.

In her sentencing remarks, Judge Louise Brandon emphasized the distress caused to the victim, noting that Nielson’s persistent actions created significant emotional and physical impact on her daily life. She classified the stalking as a high culpability offense due to its duration and the way it maximized the victim’s fear.

Nielson received an 18-week prison term for stalking, with an additional eight weeks for the driving offenses. The judge also activated 39 weeks of his existing suspended sentence, leading to a total custodial term of 65 weeks, equivalent to one year and two months. As part of his sentence, he was disqualified from driving for 115 weeks and a restraining order was imposed, preventing him from contacting the victim for seven years.

The case highlights the serious consequences of obsessive behavior and the lasting impact such actions can have on victims.