Obsessed Birmingham stalker refused to leave ex-girlfriend alone - even while in prison

Birmingham stalker Ziaur Rahman subjected his ex-girlfriend to years of abuse and harassment - even while in prison.

The 33 year-old refused to move on with his life after his former partner, aged 31, ended their relationship in 2021.

Rahman began to follow her daily movements, checking up on her and questioning her every move - prompting the woman to take out a restraining order to try to prevent any more contact.

Things came to a head in June 2022 when Rahman forced his way into her property and reigned blows on her. The woman took the brave step of calling West Midlands Police to report the assault and the constant abuse and harassment.

Rahman was arrested in June 2022 and gave a no comment interview throughout his time in custody. Despite his lack of cooperation, police were still able to charge him and he was remanded in custody as officers continued to piece together the evidence. Police said they found out that Rahman had stalked the woman - even while he was in prison.

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Rahman pleaded guilty to harassment and was sentenced to five years at Birmingham Crown Court on April 19. Inspector Matthew Owen, from our Public Protection Unit, said: “We would like to commend the bravery of the woman who came forward to report the abuse she’d been suffering for a number of years and we hope it will encourage other victims of stalking to contact us. 

“It’s believed that one in five women and one in ten men experience stalking in their lifetime. Rahman was fixated and obsessed and repeatedly contacted his victim and continued to do so even when in prison. Stalking is a serious and distressing crime which can escalate, and in some cases, is a pre-cursor to violence or serious harm. Therefore, all reports of stalking are taken incredibly seriously.”

West Midlands Police advice on dealing with stalkers

•    We would encourage anyone who thinks they are being stalked to report it to police straightaway, if you are in immediate danger call 999, otherwise you can report online (some forces have dedicated online reporting forms) or by calling 101. •    If you are not ready to speak to police, please reach out for support from the National Stalking Helpline. •    We would also encourage victims to keep a record of events, such as: o    Note details of any witnesses o    Keep a record of text messages, calls, voicemails, or social media contact etc o    Keep a diary of events, noting down dates, times, locations and any other details to describe what has happened •    Advice on how to keep your personal information safe online is available here.