There was almost one stalking and harassment case reported every day in Ceredigion over the last 12 months, figures reveal.

Office for National Statistics data shows that in Ceredigion, 346 cases of stalking, harassment or malicious communications were reported between July 2017 and June 2018.

Of the three crimes included in the figures stalking is the most serious, and can include following someone, repeatedly going uninvited to their home and monitoring their use of phones and computers.

Anti-domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid said that too often abuse which doesn’t leave bruises “is not taken seriously enough”.

Katie Ghose, the charity’s chief executive, said: “Abusers will often stop at nothing to make sure that their victim does not escape their control. From our work with survivors, we know that many women experience stalking as part of an ongoing pattern of controlling and abusive behaviour after leaving an abusive partner.

“These acts are often not seen as being as harmful as physical abuse when isolated yet together they create a life filled with threats, a life lived in fear.”

Ms Ghose said she was pleased there has been police progress regarding stalking, with improvements in identification and recording of the crime.

In Ceredigion reported stalking and harassment offences have more than tripled since 2015-16.

Across England and Wales there was an 86 per cent increase over that time, which could be down to better recording by officers.

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