A delusional stalker who waged an online campaign of “emotional rape” against the teenage daughter of an American author has had his appeal against sentence rejected by top judges.
Mark Jury, 41, of Crickhowell , in Powys , became fixated on Kenna Carlson and her mum Kristine after meeting the author on a transatlantic flight in 2007.
He initially targeted the mum in a relentless stalking campaign before turning to her terrified daughter, who he claimed a psychic told him would be his future wife.
The campaign resulted in court hearings in the US and UK, warnings from the police, and involvement of the FBI.
But it was only when Jury was arrested in February 2014 that the campaign stopped.
He pleaded guilty last October to two counts of stalking and was jailed for four and a half years at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court .
On Thursday his lawyers went to the Court of Appeal in London in a bid for a cut in the sentence but instead were told by senior judges that Jury deserved what he got.
“It seems to us that he had, over a considerable period of time, made the lives of his two victims very unpleasant,” said Mrs Justice Elisabeth Laing.
“He had engaged in a relentless and nasty campaign against both of them.
'Exceptionally serious'
“He had been for many years a constant, vicious, and haunting presence in their internet worlds.
“Warnings and agreements had not deterred or prevented that conduct until he was arrested and put on bail.
“This was an exceptionally serious offence of this kind and the sentence was neither wrong in principle nor manifestly excessive.”
The court heard Mrs Carlson was a recent widow when she had the misfortune of being placed next to Jury on a flight from the US in November 2007.
They talked about her work and she gave him a copy of her book but was surprised when he got in touch with her via social media the following month.
In a chilling prediction of what was to come he quipped: “They must have developed Twitter for stalkers.”
His relentless campaign of online communication then began with criticism of her abilities as a writer and mother.
He created false online identities to slander her and made sick remarks about his intentions towards her daughter.
When Kenna turned 18 in 2010 his campaign against her stepped up to a new level.
He said he loved her, sent her flowers, and criticised her mum for not letting them be together.
'Prolonged, determined, and frightening'
During 2011 he travelled to the US – causing mum and daughter to leave their home for fear of him turning up.
They used a private investigator to watch him and make sure he left the country.
Court proceedings in the US and UK did not stop him and, despite a warning from Dyfed-Powys Police , he continued.
Some of the messages which were sent came through accounts which Jury had set up in the name of Kenna Carlson’s deceased father.
It was only his arrest which brought the campaign, which Kenna described as “emotional rape”, to an end.
After his arrest Jury was assessed by experts and said to have a delusional personality.
Anti-psychotic medication was recommended but he said he would rather go to prison.
Sentencing last year Judge Richard Twomlow said Jury was a cyber-stalker who had made his victims’ lives into nightmares.
On Thursday his lawyers argued at the Court of Appeal that the four-and-a-half year sentence he received was too tough.
It did not take proper account of his mental condition, Lord Justice Treacy, Mrs Justice Laing and Mr Justice Irwin were told.
But, rejecting the appeal, Mrs Justice Laing said Jury was guilty of “prolonged, determined and frightening conduct”.
He may have had mental problems but he had shown in the months after his arrest and before he was jailed that he could control himself when he wanted to, she said.
The sentence was upheld.
See-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/obsessive-stalker-behind-emotional-rape-11958320
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