A stalker has been jailed for 13 years after “erratic and frightening behaviour” including breaking into a Watford woman's home.

Karl Chads appeared for sentencing at Wood Green Crown Court after being found guilty of stalking with fear of violence against two victims, burglary, criminal damage, and trespassing with the intent to commit a relevant sexual offence, in June.

Alongside the 159 months sentence passed down on Thursday, October 10 - made up of a 99 month custodial sentence and a 60 month extended sentence due to being categorised as 'dangerous' by the judge - the 41-year-old was also placed on the sex offenders register and has an indefinite restraining order.

Earlier this year, St Albans Crown court heard that Chads, despite having only met the female victim face-to-face three times, bombarded her with texts, phone calls, and voicemails from October 2023.

"The defendant became increasingly fixated on the victim, spiralling into more erratic and frightening behaviour," said Detective Constable Honeybell, after Chads was found guilty.

"Despite the woman ignoring previous messages and making it clear she did not want him contacting her, he continued to barrage the victim with unwanted contact, declaring his love for her, and posting about her on social media over a prolonged period.

"He continued to spiral, sending unwanted gifts and flowers with handwritten love letters, despite the victim not giving him her address."

Chads then began threatening the victim's partner, saying he would blow his head off and making violent sexual threats to harm the victim in front of her partner.

Karl Chads.Karl Chads. (Image: Herts Police)

On December 17, 2023, she answered a call from an unknown number and could hear Chads breathing down the phone. At 9.45pm that evening, Chads broke into her home through a bathroom window, when she was not at home, and stole her journal.

When Chads returned to her address for a second time on December 18, he broke two glass panels in the front door and reached into the property, taking her clothing and throwing it across the garden. 

However, officers caught him again forcing his way into her property and he was quickly arrested. He was found with seven condoms in his pocket.

"He is a very dangerous man who has made the most serious of threats, against a woman and her partner – both of whom he hardly knew," said DC Honeybell.

"His obsessive behaviour was unwanted and unwarranted. He made it clear that nothing was going to stop him from getting his victim, despite hardly knowing her.

"Stalking can affect every part of your life and can lead to even more serious offences. We are here to help and for domestic cases we have a Domestic Abuse Investigation and Safeguarding Unit."