'I finally have peace after stalker sentenced'

A woman whose ex-partner stalked her after she ended their 13-year "toxic" relationship has said she can finally "lock the door and feel safe" after he was given a restraining order.

Teana Lynne, 52, said it "took a long time to be brave enough" to leave him and report the stalking and she wanted people to know "there is a light at the end of the tunnel".

Ex-Chester FC player, Andrew Shelton, 44, from Blacon, Chester, pleaded guilty to stalking Ms Lynne and sending communications of an offensive nature to her and was given a suspended sentence at Chester Crown Court.

Ms Lynne said she had been scared by his "dangerous" behaviour.

After she ended their relationship, she said Shelton, who she also ran a bistro in Chester with, sent her a card saying: "Enjoy your birthday. I'll be watching from afar."

Ms Lynne, who is from Saltney, Flintshire, said Shelton had also posted an abusive response to a comment she had made on a friend's social media post telling her to "die".

A friend had told her he had made disparaging remarks about her, while commenting about what she was wearing in a particular place at a certain time.

"That really scared me. That was the day I realised that this could be dangerous," she said.

She said it had been a "toxic and narcissistic relationship" with a "rollercoaster of up and down emotions", where "you're living for that time when they are how they were when you first met, not realising that that first time was just an act".

Shelton was given a 40-week jail sentence suspended for two years, along with 100 hours of community service and a restraining order was put in place banning him from going into her north Wales hometown for a 10-year period.

Ms Lynne, who is a model and head of operations at a financial investment company, said she was relieved and glad "to have peace at last and not loud voices and banging" in her home.

"I can lock that door and there are cameras all around and I can sit there with my feet up and with my dogs and just feel safe," she said.

"Even the dogs have stopped shaking now. They used to run out of the room in fear."

She added: "I wish I'd stuck to my guns the first time I left him.

"It might just help people to know there is light at the end of the tunnel. Don't give up.

"I don't want anyone else to go through what I did."

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