A 34-year-old Sutton man who repeatedly harassed his mother, demanded cash and assaulted emergency workers faces sentencing next week after admitting multiple offences at earlier hearings.
Pattern of intimidation and threats
The court heard that over a period of ten days in May and June the defendant, identified in court reports as Adam Doo, repeatedly contacted his mother from different phones and turned up at her workplace. Prosecuting counsel Oreshia Thomas told the court the behaviour included persistent abuse, threats and demands for money.
In a victim statement read to the court the mother described living in fear, saying she ‘‘goes to bed in fear because she doesn’t know when he will turn up’’ and worries about meeting him in the street. The statement said there were "always repercussions" when she could not supply money and that her health had deteriorated after the harassment began.
Violence during arrest and previous convictions
The incident record includes an arrest on 11 August of last year, when officers were called after Doo was seen crowding over a woman and preventing her from getting up. During his arrest he grabbed an officer’s collar, dragged him and then punched him twice. Police used PAVA spray to subdue him. After being taken into custody he banged his head on the cell floor and door, the court was told.
“See what happens next. Next one gets punched. I don’t give a f***,”
Those words were reported as being shouted by the defendant towards officers while in custody. At previous hearings Doo pleaded guilty to harassment without violence and making threats and was convicted of assaulting emergency workers.
Mitigation and next steps
Mitigating counsel Graham Heathcote described a difficult childhood for Doo after being taken into care as a teenager, saying the psychological impact of that period has endured and contributed to his behaviour. Mr Heathcote told the court the defendant wished to make a fresh start, to have no contact with his mother and to relocate from Nottinghamshire. He said Doo now has a roofing job and accommodation in Worcestershire.
However, at the latest hearing the defendant refused to co-operate with the probation service. As a result, sentencing was adjourned to 29 July.
- Offender: Adam Doo, aged 34
- Charges: harassment without violence; making threats; assaulting emergency workers (convicted)
- Next court date: 29 July (sentencing)
| Incident dates | Reported actions |
|---|---|
| May–June (ten days) | Repeated calls, in-person visits, threats and demands for money |
| 11 August (previous year) | Assault on arrest: grabbed officer, punched twice; PAVA used |
The case underlines pressures on victims of familial harassment and the challenges courts face when defendants decline probation engagement. Local agencies and support services working with victims of domestic abuse and harassment in Sutton may see implications from the sentence, depending on any court-ordered interventions or licence conditions imposed.
