A Met Police chief has told of her stalking hell at the hands of an 80-year-old man and says she now ‘jumps when the doorbell goes’.
Assistant Commissioner Pippa Mills said the impact of being harassed by Richard Jackson now gives her ‘sleepless nights’.
Jackson appeared at Worcester Magistrates’ Court on Thursday after he was charged with stalking.
Miss Mills, 48, told the court the pensioner first targeted her when she was Chief Constable of West Mercia Police between 2021 and 2023.
The court heard Jackson had also loitered outside New Scotland Yard, when she became a Met Assistant Commissioner in 2024.
During this time Jackson bombarded her with emails and messages.
Colin Le Roux, prosecuting, said: ‘He has no reason to email Miss Mills.’
‘He has attended New Scotland Yard on two occasions.’
The court heard that Jackson was angry with West Mercia Police about an event in 2004, before Miss Mills had joined the force.
Assistant Commissioner Pippa Mills (pictured) said the impact of being harassed by Richard Jackson now gives her ‘sleepless nights’
Jackson (pictured) appeared at Worcester Magistrates’ Court on Thursday after he was charged with stalking
In a victim impact statement read out in court, Miss Mills said: ‘It is literally giving me sleepless nights.
‘I dread walking from the station to New Scotland Yard and back in the evening. I’m hyper vigilant.
‘This has had a big impact on my lifestyle including me feeling unsafe in my home in case he finds out where I live.
‘I jump if the doorbell goes.’
Miss Mills said that she considered herself a ‘very resilient police officer’ but added: ‘It feels very personal.’
She added: ‘I feel it would not be happening in these circumstances to a male colleague.’
Chairman of the bench, Tim Hazell, slapped Jackson with a two-year Stalking Protection Order.
Under the order, Jackson is banned from attending New Scotland Yard unless he has a pre-arranged appointment and cannot contact Miss Mills.
Jackson has previously been handed an anti-social behaviour order for assaulting a neighbour following an 18-year dispute.
He also regularly appeared outside courts wearing a placard accusing police of corruption.
