Ex-soldier, 34, who stalked his PCSO girlfriend is spared jail

Ex-soldier, 34, who stalked his PCSO girlfriend and left her in a wheelchair after ramming into her jet ski on Mexico holiday then told her ‘someone is going to get hurt’ after she dumped him, is spared jail

• PCSO Vikki Gill, 36, went abroad with lorry driver William Thompson, 34
• He used an app to track her movements, Durham Crown Court was told 
• The court heard she suspected he had deliberately collided with her on a jet ski 
• After they returned from holiday, ex-serviceman Thompson dropped the injured woman at her mother’s home and said: ‘There you go. She’s your problem’
• Thompson admitted controlling and coercive behaviour

Pictured: PCSO Vikki Gill in Canny Cops

A former soldier who stalked his PCSO girlfriend and staged a jet ski collision with her while on holiday in Mexico has avoided jail with a suspended sentence.   

Police and Community Support Officer Vikki Gill, 36, went abroad with lorry driver William Thompson, 34, who used an app to track her movements, Durham Crown Court was told. 

The court heard Miss Gill, who has appeared on the Channel 4 programme Canny Cops, suspected he had deliberately collided with her when the pair were on separate jet skis. 

Prosecutor Chris Baker said she needed surgery to fit steel rods in her legs and had to use a wheelchair for the rest of the holiday, but Thompson remained ‘unhelpful and unpleasant’ towards her until they flew back to Britain.

After they returned from holiday, ex-serviceman Thompson dropped the injured woman at her mother’s home and said: ‘There you go. She’s your problem’.

Thompson also posted a picture of a jet ski on his Facebook with the message ‘Weapon of Choice’.

When Miss Gill finally left him, Thompson messaged her saying ‘Someone is going to get hurt’ with an image of a figure holding a pistol near where she was staying at a friend’s house.

Thompson, of Consett, County Durham, admitted controlling and coercive behaviour and putting a person in fear of violence.

Judge Ray Singh gave him a 24-month jail sentence suspended for 24 months and ordered him to attend a ‘better relationships’ course.

He was also ordered to be tagged for a 120 day alcohol abstinence order and do 35 days rehabilitation activity. 

Speaking after sentencing, mother-of-two Miss Gill said her police career has been left in ruins. She had managed to fight her way back to duty but was no longer physically able to do front line policing on her beat in Peterlee, County Durham

The court heard Thompson, who was said to be suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome following his service career, conducted a campaign of terror against Vikki.

The offences took place in Durham City. 

Speaking after sentencing, mother-of-two Miss Gill said her police career has been left in ruins. She had managed to fight her way back to duty but was no longer physically able to do front line policing on her beat in Peterlee, County Durham.

Pictured: PCSO Vikki Gill

She said: ‘I got no compensation from it all. He is getting away with it basically. 

‘He has destroyed my life. I cannot do the things I used to and it is really hard.

‘He was the key skis with us. We were on holiday together. Then he just came side on, laughing his head off, thinking it was hilarious, and crashed into the side of me.

‘I am a still employed as a PCSO. But I have not done my job properly since the accident a couple or years I was on restricted duty.

‘Then I ended up going back out but I could not manage. I was going to have to leave because I could not manage full time.

‘So they dropped my hours to part time. But then I am back under occupational health with work.

‘It happened nearly two years ago in August. I have had a rough time. I have to get out of this house and get moved, It is just a nightmare.’

Lewis Kerr, mitigating, said his client suffered PTSD and was also diagnosed with cancer last December for which he is still undergoing treatment.

He added that Thompson had now ‘moved on’ and was working a local charity to address his mental health issues.  

The judge said Thompson was ‘on a power trip’ and he was being merciful even though he ‘richly deserved to go to prison’.

He added: ‘This was a horrendous catalogue of abuse against a female who time and time again gave you the chance to change.’

He also granted an indefinite restraining order, banning Thompson from ever contacting PCSO Gill again.

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