James Nielson, 41, was sentenced to prison after a three-week stalking campaign that included leaving a note on his former partner’s door revealing their affair and demanding paternity tests
A 12-year-long affair ended in acrimony, culminating in a man pounding on his former mistress’s door, demanding a paternity test.
James Nielson, 41, pursued his ex for three weeks, insisting on DNA tests to establish the paternity of two of her three children, born during their lengthy liaison.
His relentless pursuit involved late-night visits to her home, banging on the door and leaving a note for her husband revealing their secret relationship.
At Liverpool Crown Court today, March 3, prosecutor Lahraib Iqbal stated that Nielson and the victim had known each other for 15 years. Despite marrying her husband in 2013, she maintained an intermittent affair with Nielson, blocking his number during their breaks.
On December 4 last year, the woman awoke to discover 37 messages from Nielson on her phone. As she left for work that morning, she noticed Nielson tailing her.
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She instructed him to leave her be and carried on, but upon reaching her workplace at 8.40am, Nielson confronted her again, only departing when a passer-by intervened, reports the Liverpool Echo.
At 11.30pm that night, whilst at home in Liverpool with her husband and children, Nielson began hammering on her door. He slipped a note through the letterbox divulging the affair before leaving the premises – only to return in his car at 3am, honking his horn.
Ms Iqbal stated: “At 10.30am (December 5) the defendant was spotted sat outside the address, beeping his horn and waving at (the victim) from his car.”
Three days later, around 6.20am on December 8, the victim once more departed her home for work when Nielson confronted her. After telling him to “go away”, she climbed into her vehicle and set off towards Crosby.
However, Nielson pursued her in his black Volkswagen Golf, forcing her to pull over to prevent a collision with another motorist.
Ms Iqbal continued: “He went around to the front of her car and with his fists began to bang on the bonnet of her car.”
The woman subsequently contacted police.
Nielson, of Carriage Grove in Bootle, entered guilty pleas to stalking, driving whilst disqualified, and driving without a licence. He additionally admitted two violations of a 12-month suspended sentence imposed in September 2025 for involvement in cannabis supply and production.
The violations comprised the stalking and motoring offences, alongside his failure to comply with a curfew requirement between December 1 and December 8 2025.
‘Struggled to lose love of his life’
Olivia Bell, defending, told the court: “I would urge the court to accept his remorse is genuine. he regrets any distress caused to (the woman). I in no way seek to minimise his behaviour but simply provide context for his contacting the complainant. The accused and the complainant had been entangled in an intermittent relationship for 12 years, during which the complainant gave birth to three children.
The defendant, however, has raised doubts over the paternity of two of these children. Whilst his actions were unquestionably inappropriate, this context is provided to shed light on why he repeatedly reached out to the victim.”
She stated: “There were no threats of violence. Simply this was a man who struggled to lose what he called the love of his life following as 12-year affair and wanted to seek information about the paternity of the children.”
Nielson’s criminal record includes 11 previous convictions for 21 offences, many of which are driving-related.
In her sentencing remarks, Judge Louise Brandon observed: “It’s quite clear the fear and distress you caused has had a physical and emotional impact on (the victim). It’s affected how she conducted her day to day activities. She has incurred expenses and she has described the impact these actions have had on her life.
“I’m quite satisfied that the stalking is a high culpability offence. This was a persistent action over a long period. You followed the complainant and your behaviour was conducted in a way to maximise her fear and distress, including turning up at her family home.”
Nielson received an 18-week prison term for stalking and eight weeks for the driving offences. The judge also activated 39 weeks of his existing suspended sentence, resulting in a total custodial term of 65 weeks – equivalent to one year and two months.
Additionally, he was disqualified from driving for a total of 115 weeks, whilst a restraining order was imposed preventing him from contacting the victim for seven years.