UK's most senior female police officer left sleepless amid pensioner stalker hell

Britain's most senior female police officer has told of her stalker hell at the hands of a pensioner.

Pippa Mills, Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said she jumps each time the doorbell rings. She also told how she is left petrified when the letterbox goes after being targeted by 80-year-old Richard Jackson. He began contacting Ms Mills in 2021 when she was Chief Constable of West Mercia Police - the force he has a 21-year grievance against.

But the harassment continued after she moved to New Scotland Yard in 2023. Magistrates in Worcester were told he has twice been caught loitering outside the Met’s central London HQ. In a victim impact statement Ms Mills said: “It’s literally giving me sleepless nights. I dread walking from the station to New Scotland Yard and back in the evening. I'm hyper vigilant."

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“This has had a big impact on my lifestyle including me feeling unsafe in my home in case he finds out where I live.

“I jump if the doorbell goes. It feels very personal. I feel it would not be happening in these circumstances to a male colleague." Magistrates sad they believed Jackson's actions did amount to stalking and issued a two-year Stalking Protection Order.

As part of the order he is prohibited from attending New Scotland Yard unless he has an appointment and cannot contact Ms Mills in any way.

Jackson, of Bishampton, Worcs, has previously been slapped with an ASBO for assaulting a neighbour following an 18-year dispute.

He has also regularly appeared outside courts wearing a placard accusing police of corruption.

Ms Mills was hired to restore Scotland Yard’s battered reputation after the Sarah Everard scandal.

She was given the title of Assistant Commissioner for “trust and legitimacy”, on a salary of £216,000.