'Stalker put me through 20 months of living hell' – councillor speaks out on vile abuse

Cllr Wendy Maisey, who represents Culcheth, Croft and Glazebury, was the victim of a prolonged spell of abuse from Marta Paszkowska, of Chicago Place.

As previously reported in the Warrington Guardian, she was given a community order for 18 months and a two-year restraining order against Ms Maisey at Liverpool Crown Court last week.

Over a number of months, Paszkowska, who is a former parish Cllr for Burtonwood and Westbrook, repeatedly verbally abused Ms Maisey online and made threats such as ‘I’m not finished with you yet’.

The court was told how police warned the defendant about her behaviour but she didn’t stop.

Cllr Maisey said 'no elected individual' should have to go through what she did.

She added: "After 20 months of living hell, I’m glad to see that the CPS was successful in court in sentencing Ms Paszkowska. Her behaviour forced me at one point to move to an undisclosed address due to concerns for my life.

"No elected individual should have to go through this, the impact on my mental and physical health has been immense.

"I’ve remained silent throughout this harrowing time to protect my three daughters, one who was also targeted by her.

"I’ve been a strong advocate for encouraging women into not just politics, but into public life and appalling behaviour like this only discourages this process.

"My only hope is that she now sees the error of her ways, doesn’t put anyone else through this and abides to the conditions of the restraining order.

"She’s previously been remanded in custody for breaking the terms of the Stalking Protection Order put in place for my safety and she has shown no respect for me as an individual or for the Law of our Country.

"I’d like to thank the CPS and Cheshire Police for their ongoing support, in particular the Harm Reduction Unit who have been amazing throughout this ordeal.

"Without the wraparound love and support from my friends and family I probably would have reluctantly stepped down from public life."

Paszkowska, who was unrepresented and defending herself, said: “I do apologise and feel sorry for Wendy Maisey. All of this has been caused by the personal trauma I went through for nine years.

“This was all about Cheshire Police, it was not about Wendy Maisey.

“I found it was the only way I could draw attention and be heard by Cheshire Police.

“It was about showing my desperation and frustration.”

Guilty: Marta Paszkowska

Concluding, Judge Brian Cummings KC said: "I am prepared to accept there are some indications of remorse, albeit I am afraid it is perhaps accompanied by a lack of insight into the real impact of this offence on the victim.

“Once you had been charged there was not any further problems or breaches in the nearly 12 months since.

“In my judgement, the appropriate sentence is a community order.”