Former soldier jailed for stalking officer who arrested him

Gareth Nicholas, 41, from Waunarlwydd in Swansea, sent a chilling Facebook message to the officer after somehow discovering his home address, Swansea Crown Court heard.

The officer had been part of a team that executed a Scottish arrest warrant at Nicholas’s home in May 2023. Two years later, in August 2025, he received an unsettling friend request followed by a message that immediately put him on edge.

The message read “I found you” before accusing the officer of unlawfully entering his property, assaulting him whilst he was in his underwear, and “abducting” him. Nicholas claimed to have spotted a pattern of corrupt behaviour, warning: “I will catch you down the Liberty son. Look forward to it” – referencing Swansea City’s former stadium name.

Days later, the situation escalated when a handwritten letter arrived at the officer’s previous address. The new homeowner contacted the policeman to inform him of the delivery, which repeated the corruption allegations and offered to drop the matter if the officer helped expose supposed police misconduct.

When arrested on 3 September, Nicholas admitted sending the message but denied it constituted stalking.

The officer told the court that whilst he’d faced verbal abuse during his career, “this was different – this was personal”. His family responded by installing CCTV cameras, security lighting and fencing, whilst implementing safety plans for their children. He expressed concern that Nicholas “has not let go of whatever injustice he feels he has been dealt” and feared the vendetta would continue.

The court heard Nicholas has multiple previous convictions from Scotland between 2019 and 2024, including stalking, malicious communications, threatening behaviour, domestic abuse offences and possessing ammunition without a licence.

Judge Huw Rees acknowledged that Nicholas had witnessed traumatic events during his military service, telling him: “I thank you for your service to your country. But on the other hand, don’t do this again.”

Nicholas, who appeared unrepresented, pleaded guilty to stalking and received a 20-week prison sentence with a 20% reduction for his early plea. Due to time already served on remand, his release is expected imminently. He was also handed a five-year restraining order preventing any contact with the officer.