Sunday 29 July 2018

'I am sure that one day she will kill me': Bus driver who was stalked by an infatuated passenger for six years reveals he now wears a stab-proof vest and lives like a recluse

  • Charlie Howells began her stalking campaign against Imre Marton, 33, in 2012
  • Howells has now been locked up for a second time, for three years
  • Mr Marton fears Howells has people on the outside ready to do him harm
  • He now wears a stab proof vest and covers windows of his home in black curtains 
A bus driver has spoken of how he is so scared of an obssessed stalker he now lives like a recluse and will 'never feel safe'.
Imre Marton, 33, also covers the windows of his home with black curtains so people can't see inside and wears a stab proof vest.
Despite his tormentor Charlie Howells being locked up for a second time, he fears she has people on the outside ready to do him harm.
Mr Marton told the Sunday Mirror: 'I never feel safe. I know she won't stop and this is never going to end. I am living in fear, always looking over my shoulder.
Imre Marton (pictured) in his stab vest when appearing in the BBC documentary about stalking
Imre Marton (pictured) in his stab vest when appearing in the BBC documentary about stalking
Charlie Howells (pictured right) with a former X-Factor finalist Jahmene Douglas. She has now been jailed for a second time
Charlie Howells (pictured right) with a former X-Factor finalist Jahmene Douglas. She has now been jailed for a second time
'I am sure that one day she will kill me. It's the end goal for her. Her mission is for us to die together.'
The nightmare scenario started in 2012 when Howells, 24 began stalking Mr Marton after she boarded his No32 bus in Oxfordshire.
Howells would discover which journeys Mr Marton was driving each day and wait for him at bus stops along each of his routes.
She also sent him more than 500 Facebook messages.
Howells messaged Mr Marton after he appeared on a BBC documentary to raise awareness of the problem. On the documentary he said he now wore a stab proof vest
Howells messaged Mr Marton after he appeared on a BBC documentary to raise awareness of the problem. On the documentary he said he now wore a stab proof vest
 She persistently ignored a restraining order not to contact him or board any bus being driven by him.
In August 2014, Howells was slapped with a two-year restraining order preventing her from contacting Mr Marton in any way, including specifically via social media, and from boarding any bus being driven by him.
However, she persistently ignored the court order, which was made after she was convicted of harassing the bus driver.
Recalling how the campaign started, he said: 'I'd feel her breath on me. She was like a ninja, she would ­appear from nowhere. She was always there.'
After his rejection, Howells began turning up in shops and cafes Mr Marton was visiting. 
On the bus she played One Direction songs and handed him notes.
Howells was jailed in May 2016.
Judge Pringle jailed Howells for two years for breaching the restraining order and gave her a concurrent two-month sentence for harassment.
Howells (pictured) would discover which journeys Mr Marton was driving each day and wait for him at bus stops along each of his routes
Howells (pictured) would discover which journeys Mr Marton was driving each day and wait for him at bus stops along each of his routes
Howells was also made the subject of a new restraining order against Mr Marton, to last for the next five years.
Earlier this month Howells was jailed again for three years at Oxford Crown Court and given a ten-year restraining order.
The 33-year-old added: 'I take no comfort in her getting three years.
'It just gives her more time to plan what she is going to do next – and that terrifies me.'
Despite blocking all communication with Howells, Mr Marton continued to receive messages and her declare her love for him.After he appeared in a BBC documentary called Stalker and Me in 2017 to raise awareness of the issue, the messages became worse.
She chillingly told Mr Marton they were going to 'die together'.
Despite the new sentence Mr Marton doesn't think it is long enough and wants to start a family in his native Hungary- but is concerned about possible retribution from Howells.
He is being supported by charity Paladin.
He added:  'I can't even think about looking for love again. I have too many trust issues and bad memories.
'Her behaviour has also cost me £10,000 a year because of missed shifts, avoiding overtime and changing jobs.
'It's left me almost bankrupt, meaning I can't afford to move back to my family in Hungary.'
Despite the torment he has suffered Mr Marton is determined to speak out and help others who have been impacted by similar situations. 
Thames Valley Police said: 'Charlie Howells has subjected the victim to a sustained period of harassment which has had a significant impact on his life.
'She has never shown any remorse but multiple investigations and increasing sentence lengths demonstrate that this behaviour will not be tolerated.'
According to Paladin, the National Stalking Advocacy Service, 700,00 women are stalked each year.
And one in five women and one in ten men will experience stalking in their adult lives.

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