**Welsh Family Endure Six Years of Stalking Following Accidental Text**
A family in Port Talbot, south Wales, have spoken out about the profound trauma and relentless fear they’ve experienced over the last six years due to a stalker who targeted them after a seemingly innocent interaction on a dating app. The ordeal, which began with a single accidental text, has left Kathryn and Bethan Sims in a constant state of anxiety and has led them to call for greater protection from the authorities.
The Sims family’s ordeal began in 2019 when Bethan, then using the dating app Plenty of Fish, accidentally sent a one-letter message to Neal Hancock while she drifted off to sleep. Hancock, interpreting the message as romantic interest, bombarded her with further messages. When Bethan failed to respond and subsequently blocked him, Hancock’s behaviour turned sinister. He began creating multiple profiles across social media platforms, persistently circumventing blocks, and turning what many would see as a minor mishap into years of harassment.
Despite efforts to break free from Hancock’s unwanted advances, his obsession escalated. The stalking migrated from digital harassment to real-life monitoring. The family, who have never spoken to Hancock face-to-face, were deeply unsettled when he sent messages referencing their movements, proving that he was physically tracking them. In one particularly troubling episode, Hancock posted the Sims’ home address online and referred to Bethan’s children, causing deep concern for the family’s safety.
The repercussions have been long-lasting and severe. Kathryn, the family’s matriarch, explained that the fear now pervades every aspect of their lives. The children’s school was alerted, and Bethan has at times felt imprisoned in her own home. The relentless anxiety and threat have even led to Kathryn requiring hospitalisation due to stress-related health issues.
Hancock has faced legal consequences for his actions. He was sentenced to a 48-week custodial sentence, suspended for two years, after admitting to stalking with intent to cause fear of violence at Swansea Magistrates’ Court in 2023. Accompanying the sentence was a five-year restraining order prohibiting any form of contact or proximity to his victims. However, Hancock has repeatedly breached these court-mandated restrictions, serving multiple stints in prison as a result. Despite being considered a serious risk and monitored by multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA), the Sims family feel the enforcement measures in place are wholly insufficient.
The family’s fears were compounded when, shortly after a prison release, Hancock breached his exclusion zone again. Worryingly, the family were not made aware of this intrusion until almost a week after it occurred. This failure in communication, they say, could have had dire consequences. Kathryn remarked, “We could have been killed by the time we were told he had breached his exclusion zone.”
In a further development, the Sims family discovered that Hancock’s behaviour was not isolated. Through mutual contacts, they learned of Carl Mallon, another individual who suffered prolonged harassment at Hancock’s hands, resulting in major disruption to his life and wellbeing.
Despite existing restraining orders and custodial sentences, Hancock’s actions have continued, prompting the Sims family to pursue a Stalking Prevention Order (SPO). SPOs, introduced in 2020, are designed to restrict stalkers’ behaviours much earlier in investigations by prohibiting activities such as approaching victims or entering certain locations. However, a completed SPO for Hancock’s case has not yet been implemented due to legal delays, leaving the family feeling exposed and unsupported.
Inspector Jared Easton of South Wales Police, who oversees the case, acknowledged the gravity of the situation, describing Hancock as a “dangerous individual who refuses to learn his lesson.” Police are seeking more stringent conditions for the existing restraining order and have committed to act swiftly should further breaches occur.
With Hancock due for release again next month, the Sims family are preparing to return to court, advocating for a permanent exclusion zone and tighter protection. They hope their case will shine a light on the challenges stalking victims face and prompt greater official action to prevent others from enduring similar trauma. As Kathryn reflects, “It’s affected everything. It never leaves you when you have a stalker. We just want to feel safe again.”