Carlisle Man Jailed for Stalking His Father and Sister
A man from Carlisle has been sentenced to 32 weeks in prison after admitting to stalking his father and sister over a period of several weeks.
Wesley Barnett, 31, who has no fixed address, appeared at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court, where the court heard details of his repeated unwanted visits and attempts to contact his family members between October 1 and October 17, 2026.
Barnett repeatedly turned up unannounced at his relatives’ home and was frequently seen standing at a bus stop outside their property. He also visited a neighbour’s house and a taxi business in an attempt to locate his sister.
On October 15, Barnett entered the back garden of his relatives’ property through an open gate. Another family member had to remove him from the premises. He continued visiting the property despite his father and a neighbour contacting the police.
Prosecutor George Shelley told the court that Barnett’s behaviour had caused considerable distress to both victims.
The prosecutor explained that Barnett’s father and sister feared the unpredictable nature of his actions, which had seriously affected their daily lives. In his defence, Barnett acknowledged that he was no longer welcome at the family home.
The court heard that Barnett had 16 previous convictions covering 30 offences. He had also received a suspended prison sentence in March, meaning he was already subject to a court order when the stalking occurred.
District Judge Philip Holden criticised Barnett for repeatedly breaching the boundaries set by his family while subject to a suspended sentence.The judge concluded that Barnett had been given an opportunity to comply with the court's requirements but had failed to do so.
Barnett was sentenced to an immediate 32-week prison term.
The court also imposed a two-year restraining order prohibiting him from contacting his father and sister or visiting their home.
The sentence reflects the seriousness of the repeated unwanted contact and the impact it had on the victims.
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