A South Australian magistrate has labelled a serial stalker the "antithesis of what a man should be" for his disturbing harassment of 25 women he met on the street, social media and dating apps.
Key points:
- Sean Flintoff will serve at least three years and four months in prison
- He stalked and harassed 25 women over 10 years
- Flintoff will be eligible to apply for parole in December 2024
Magistrate Mark Semmens today sentenced Sean Ian Bruce Flintoff to six years and two months' jail with a non-parole period of three years and four months.
After time served, the 36-year-old will be eligible to apply for parole in December 2024.
He pleaded guilty to 25 stalking charges, each relating to a different female victim he harassed and intimidated between 2011 and 2021.
Flintoff would attend his victims' homes when they had never disclosed their addresses to him and would relentlessly call and send text messages to women he met on dating apps Oasis and Tinder.
Threatening and abusive calls and messages would continue despite women changing their numbers.
The court heard he would also constantly call the workplace of some victims, causing one to lose her job, as well as harass their family and friends.
"Most concerningly, when [one victim] did not answer your calls, you threatened to rape her and you threatened to rape her daughter," Magistrate Semmens said.
"You called her employer and were abusive towards the staff, causing her to be reprimanded by her employer. You threatened to attend her son's football grand final.
"This is gravely serious offending – it is disgusting that you threatened to rape not only the victim, but her daughter. That is appalling behaviour that no one should have to endure."
Victims forced to move house
Flintoff called one woman 300 times in one day.
Many women were followed and would receive unwanted flowers at their homes and workplaces, food delivery orders, scented letters and noticed their mail had been stolen or moved.
On one occasion, Flintoff sent perfume and a sex worker to a woman's home. Another two women had the word "slut" graffitied on their homes.
In statements to the court, 11 of the 25 women expressed their fear and anxiety after being stalked by Flintoff, with many still "looking over their shoulder".
"Sean made me feel afraid as I didn't know what he would do to me and my son," one victim wrote.
"He made me feel vulnerable. My son would say, 'Sean can't get in here, can he?'"
The court heard some women moved house after the stalking, while others installed CCTV cameras in order to feel safe.`
"I form the view that you are an exceedingly dangerous person," Magistrate Semmens said.
"You are the nightmare of every woman who seeks care and attention in a decent and loving relationship in the 21st century."
"To me, you are the antithesis of what a man should be — men who behave like you set backwards all the hard work and diligence of decent men who strive to build bridges with others in our community for past wrongs."
At the very end of his hour-long sentence, Magistraste Semmens acknowledged the bravery of his victims for coming forward to police.