Because society still tends to laugh at the men who report domestic violence incidents or who call the police on their female stalkers, here’s a story that can send chills down your spine, while also delivering an important message.
Imre Marton, a former bus driver from the UK, has been stalked by the same woman – a complete stranger – for a 6 full years. Today, she is behind bars for repeatedly violating a restraining order he got in her name, but he still lives in fear of what she might do to him.
His message is one meant to remove the stigma around male victims, and to help them seek the help they need.
This isn’t the first time that Imre’s story makes international headlines and, considering how incredible it is, it’s no wonder. He was even featured on a BBC documentary last November, in which he detailed the lengths Howells went to to make his life a living hell.
It all started in 2012, when he worked as a bus driver in Oxfordshire. He started noticing her on his bus and, soon enough, he realized that she was making round trips without a destination. She would also sit close behind him so she could sniff him, and soon started following him on the street, as well.
One day, she came up to him and asked him out, but he turned her down since he was already in a relationship. She started crying – and her behavior grew worse from that day on.
All these years, she’s texted him up to 500 messages a day, sent him notes and letters, love messages and threats, showed up at his home and his favorite bar, and repeatedly threatened to kill him. She even did it from prison, after he did the aforementioned BBC documentary, laughing at him for going on camera with the revelation that he was wearing a stab vest because he was afraid she might try to knife him to death.
Today, Imre is no longer working as a bus driver and has moved to a different city. He tells the Mirror he’s only breaking his silence again to urge victims of violence and stalking to get proper help. His example is proof of the worst that can happen, he says.
“I can’t even think about looking for love again. I have too many trust issues and bad memories. Her behavior has also cost me £10,000 a year because of missed shifts, avoiding overtime and changing jobs. It’s left me almost bankrupt, meaning I can’t afford to move back to my family in Hungary,” he says.
“When I close the curtains, that’s my happy place. I have two-way film on the windows, I can’t see out and others cannot see in. My neighbors don’t know me. I am so wary of people,” Imre explains, adding that he lives like a 90-year-old. “I am speaking out because I want to warn others about Howells and for stalking victims to seek help.”
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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