Connor Creaghan

A man in his 60s is the first person in Lincolnshire to be served with a new court order for the online stalking of a woman.

Lincolnshire Police sought to impose the Stalking Protection Order (SPO) on the man at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court.

It means that he cannot block his internet history, speak about or impersonate the victim online.

He must now attend a perpetrator intervention programme, provide the police with access to any device with the internet and his passwords to social media accounts.

The order will stay in place indefinitely. The police are able to immediately arrest anyone breaching an SPO and this could result in up to five years imprisonment.

SPOs were introduced to protect victims under the Stalking and Protection Act 2019, with the orders being made possible from January 20, 2020.

The police said they would not be naming the person because he has not been charged.

Detective Chief Inspector Richard Myszczyszyn said: “We are seeing an increase in reports of stalking.

“So these orders make it possible for our officers to identify where they can be used and recommend to the courts that they are put in place to help protect victims.

“Stalking is any behaviour which is a pattern of fixated, obsessive, unwanted and repeated behaviour.

“If you are experiencing behaviour of this nature, it is a crime and needs reporting to us.”

Fantasy Island has confirmed that customers will get a full refund if coronavirus risks force the park to close.

The theme park in Ingoldmells is also installing outdoor handwashing stations, hand sanitiser at rides and pay points, as well as getting in a bigger team of cleaners.

Fantasy Island planned to open for the season on Saturday, March 21 but with bans on mass gatherings being mooted, it’s unclear what it could mean for the park.

It comes as the UK has now moved from the contain phase to the delay phase and the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases reaches 590.

A post on the Fantasy Island Facebook page reads: “Let’s spread something positive! We are reassuring visitors it is fun as usual with risk free bookings.

“The management team is promising a money-back guarantee if the government guidance requires us to close.

“Please rest assured that out of an abundance of caution we have also adopted additional measures to ensure the safety of all guests.

“If the government instruct closure, we advise all guests who have booked accommodation or attraction tickets to contact us and rearrange their visit or request a refund.”