A Neath man has been jailed for the third time after breaching a court-imposed restraining order by contacting his victim’s daughter via Instagram.
39-year-old Neal Hancock, from Neath town centre, sent a follow request to the girl — a direct violation of legal restrictions preventing any form of contact with the victim or her family.
Hancock’s latest conviction adds to a disturbing history of stalking offences, including two previous prison terms:
- In June 2025, he was jailed for breaching the same restraining order after messaging the victim directly on social media.
- In July 2024, he received a 46-week sentence for harassing multiple individuals across Neath Port Talbot.
His campaign of stalking began in 2019 following a seemingly innocent mistake — a one-letter message accidentally sent to him on a dating app. What followed was a relentless barrage of online abuse, unwanted visits, and physical intimidation.
Victims described Hancock’s obsession as “life-altering.” He created numerous fake social media profiles to bypass blocks, tracked their whereabouts while they were shopping, and sent chilling messages describing their location in real time. One mother was so fearful she shared Hancock’s photo with her children’s school to warn staff.
Another victim, who had known Hancock in his youth, reported years of harassment involving homophobic slurs, threatening behaviour, and workplace confrontations. He eventually moved house in a bid to escape Hancock’s ongoing fixation.
Responding to the latest conviction, Sergeant Rachael Draisey of South Wales Police said:
“Hancock’s stalking has made his victim’s life a living hell. Nobody should have to tolerate unwanted attention to the point of feeling uncomfortable and fearful for their personal safety on a daily basis.”
“It is particularly frustrating when repeat offenders like Neal Hancock just do not learn their lesson. We hope for his sake that he will finally change his ways.”
South Wales Police urge anyone experiencing stalking or harassment to come forward. Support is available via the National Stalking Helpline and local safeguarding teams.
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