June 2022

Northampton mum fought off daughter’s stalker who knocked on door armed with imitation gun

A schoolgirl’s brave mum fought off a Northampton man armed with what she thought was a loaded gun who was stalking her daughter.

Daniel Sebastian Mains followed the then 14-year-old from school on four separate occasions, turning up at her home twice between October 8 and November 28, 2020.

However, on the afternoon of November 27, the girl’s mother answered a knock at the door to be confronted by Mains holding what looked a real firearm trying to force his way in.

Mains pointed the gun at her but — despite not knowing it was a fake — she pushed him away and he ran off.

The 21-year-old, of Bidders Close in Northampton, was arrested and charged with possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and stalking involving serious distress.

He was due to stand trial next month but changed his plea to guilty and sentenced to 20 months suspended for two years at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday (June 10).