Exploring the experiences of an autistic male convicted of stalking

Journal article

Rawdon, N., Vinter, L.P., Allely, C. and Wheatley, R. 2024. Exploring the experiences of an autistic male convicted of stalking. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology. pp. 1-35. https://doi.org/10.1080/14789949.2024.2339537
AuthorsRawdon, N., Vinter, L.P., Allely, C. and Wheatley, R.
Abstract

Objective

Despite an increasing number of studies which examine the interplay between autism and offending mechanisms, there has been a lack of research investigating the interplay between autism and stalking. It was anticipated that findings from this investigation would inform future interventions with individuals with autism who stalk.

Design/Methods

This secondary data analysis research used a qualitative case study approach to explore the experiences of an individual with a High Functioning Autism (HFA) diagnosis, who had been convicted of stalking.

Results

Interview data was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, to gain a rich understanding of stalking behaviour from the perspective of the individual, and to identify the key issues associated with Criminal Justice Service interventions. The following superordinate themes were identified; ‘What she means to me’, ‘Seeing the problem but the urge is too strong to stop’ and ‘Life after prison’.

Conclusions

A key implication of the findings was that autistic traits can play a contextual role within stalking behaviour. Future recommendations of a specifically tailored treatment approach recognising and considering autism-related responsivity issues are discussed.

KeywordsStalking; Autism; Neurodiversity; Criminal Justice System
Year2024
JournalJournal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology
Journal citationpp. 1-35
PublisherTaylor & Francis (Routledge)
ISSN 1478-9957
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/14789949.2024.2339537
Web address (URL)https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/RJFP
Accepted author manuscript
License
File Access Level
Open
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online09 Apr 2024
Publication process dates
Accepted01 Apr 2024
Deposited22 Apr 2024
Permalink -

https://repository.derby.ac.uk/item/q589q/exploring-the-experiences-of-an-autistic-male-convicted-of-stalking

Log in to edit

Download files

Accepted author manuscript
AAM Autistic Male convicted of stalking.docx
License: CC BY 4.0
File access level: Open

Publisher's version
Exploring the experiences of an autistic male convicted of stalking.pdf
License: CC BY 4.0
File access level: Open

  • 51
    total views
  • 31
    total downloads
  • 1
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Experiences of autism in UK prison-based offending behaviour programmes to address sexual offending
Vinter, L. P. 2024. Experiences of autism in UK prison-based offending behaviour programmes to address sexual offending. 24th Annual Conference of the European Society of Criminology.
Evaluating the Thinking Skills Programme (TSP): A Qualitative Study
Blagden, N., Vinter, L., Penford, E., Mason, J. and Delliere-Moor, P. 2024. Evaluating the Thinking Skills Programme (TSP): A Qualitative Study. 24th Annual Conference of the European Society of Criminology.
Exploring the life stories of autistic men convicted of sexual crimes
Vinter, L. P. 2024. Exploring the life stories of autistic men convicted of sexual crimes. British Society of Criminology Conference 2024.
Mental wellbeing, but not prison climate, mediates the association between autistic traits and treatment readiness among men with sexual convictions
Vinter, L. P., Harper, C. A., Dillon, G. and Winder, B. 2024. Mental wellbeing, but not prison climate, mediates the association between autistic traits and treatment readiness among men with sexual convictions. Journal of Sexual Aggression. pp. 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1080/13552600.2024.2378022
Exploring pathways to sexual offending for autistic individuals and considerations for prevention
Vinter, L. 2024. Exploring pathways to sexual offending for autistic individuals and considerations for prevention. University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) Sexual Offending, Vulnerability and Policing Conference.
Identification and support of autistic individuals within the UK Criminal Justice System: a practical approach based upon professional consensus with input from lived experience.
Woodhouse, E., Hollingdale, J., Davies, L., Al-Attar, Z., Young, S., Vinter, L. P., Agyemang, K., Bartlett, C., Berryessa, C., Chaplin, E., Deeley, Q., Freckelton, I., Gerry, F., Gudjonsson, G., Maras, K., Mattison, M., McCarthy, J., Mills, R., Misch, P., Murphy, D. and Allely, C. 2024. Identification and support of autistic individuals within the UK Criminal Justice System: a practical approach based upon professional consensus with input from lived experience. BMC Medicine. 22 (157), pp. 1-30.
Stalking Behaviour
Johnstone, L. and Wheatley, R. 2023. Stalking Behaviour. British Psychological Society.
The experiences of people with intellectual disabilities who have been convicted of sexual offences of being recalled back to prison
Rawdon, N. and Wheatley, R. 2023. The experiences of people with intellectual disabilities who have been convicted of sexual offences of being recalled back to prison. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour. 14 (1), pp. 14-27. https://doi.org/10.1108/jidob-11-2022-0008
Stalking and the impact of labelling “There’s a difference between my offence and a stalker”
Wheatley, R. and Underwood, A. 2023. Stalking and the impact of labelling “There’s a difference between my offence and a stalker”. Journal of Criminal Psychology. 13 (2), pp. 91-104. https://doi.org/10.1108/jcp-07-2021-0026
Stalking: Issues of deterrence “When I was stalking, I was so dedicated to it. Nothing would stop me. It was my focus.”
Wheatley, R., Henley, S. and Farnham, F. 2023. Stalking: Issues of deterrence “When I was stalking, I was so dedicated to it. Nothing would stop me. It was my focus.”. Journal of Criminal Psychology. 13 (2). https://doi.org/10.1108/jcp-07-2021-0027
Introduction “stalking: what do we know about working with people who stalk and where do we go?”
Wheatley, R. 2023. Introduction “stalking: what do we know about working with people who stalk and where do we go?”. Journal of Criminal Psychology. 13 (2). https://doi.org/10.1108/jcp-07-2021-0024
Stalking, narcissistic vulnerability and the application of schema therapy “I was punishing her for me not being good enough”
Wheatley, R. and Conway, C. 2023. Stalking, narcissistic vulnerability and the application of schema therapy “I was punishing her for me not being good enough”. Journal of Criminal Psychology. 13 (2). https://doi.org/10.1108/jcp-07-2021-0025
Classifying Stalking Among Adolescents: Preliminary Considerations for Risk Management
Lewis, M. and Wheatley, R. 2023. Classifying Stalking Among Adolescents: Preliminary Considerations for Risk Management. in: Mellins, M., Wheatley, R. and Flowers, C. (ed.) Young People, Stalking Awareness and Domestic Abuse London Palgrave Macmillan/ Springer. pp. 17-35
How Features of Autism may Provide the Context of Vulnerability to Engage in Offending, and Recommendations for Improving Support for Individuals with Autism
Brown, S., Davy, D., Allely, C., Vinter, L., Orofino, E., Mann, N. and Lundrigan, S. 2023. How Features of Autism may Provide the Context of Vulnerability to Engage in Offending, and Recommendations for Improving Support for Individuals with Autism. National Organisation for the Treatment of Abuse (NOTA).
A multi-perspective qualitative study about working with autistic individuals in prison-based interventions to address sexual offending
Vinter, L.P., Dillon, G., Winder, B. and Harper, C.A. 2023. A multi-perspective qualitative study about working with autistic individuals in prison-based interventions to address sexual offending. Sexual Abuse. https://doi.org/10.1177/10790632231216701
Autism in prisons: an exploration of lived experiences, challenges and needs
Vinter, L. 2023. Autism in prisons: an exploration of lived experiences, challenges and needs. Neurodiversity in the Criminal Justice System: Offending, Police Investigative Interviewing, Courtroom and Prison Conference. University of Salford, UK 30 - 30 Oct 2023
Experiences of autism in prison-based interventions to address sexual offending
Vinter, L. P. 2023. Experiences of autism in prison-based interventions to address sexual offending. 17th Conference of The International Association for the Treatment of Sexual Offenders (IATSO). Trondheim, Norway 30 Aug - 01 Sep 2023
‘People don’t like you when you’re different’: exploring the prison experiences of autistic individuals
Vinter, L., Gayle Dillon and Belinda Winder 2023. ‘People don’t like you when you’re different’: exploring the prison experiences of autistic individuals. Psychology, Crime & Law. 29 (3), pp. 243-262. https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316x.2020.1781119
Autism in Prisons: An Overview of Experiences of Custody and Implications for Custodial Rehabilitation for Autistic Prisoners
Vinter, L.P. and Dillon, G. 2023. Autism in Prisons: An Overview of Experiences of Custody and Implications for Custodial Rehabilitation for Autistic Prisoners. in: Smith, T. (ed.) Autism and Criminal Justice: The Experience of Suspects, Defendants and Offenders in England and Wales Abingdon, Oxfordshire Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group. pp. 1-20
The experiences of the keyworker scheme from the perspective of men in prison
Martin, G. and Wheatley, R. 2022. The experiences of the keyworker scheme from the perspective of men in prison. Forensic Update. 140, pp. 11-17. https://doi.org/10.53841/bpsfu.2022.1.140.11
Stalking and the role of occupational therapy “you’re not living life to the full if you’re stalking”
Wheatley, R. and Baker, S. 2022. Stalking and the role of occupational therapy “you’re not living life to the full if you’re stalking”. Journal of Criminal Psychology. 13 (2), pp. 120-135. https://doi.org/10.1108/jcp-07-2021-0028
The effectiveness of interventions for male perpetrators of stalking: A Rapid Evidence Assessment
Johnson, H., Derefaka, G. and Wheatley, R. 2021. The effectiveness of interventions for male perpetrators of stalking: A Rapid Evidence Assessment. Forensic Update. https://doi.org/10.53841/bpsfu.2021.1.138.64
Stalking risk assessment tools: A brief critical review
Dearn, G., Whatson, C. and Wheatley, R. 2021. Stalking risk assessment tools: A brief critical review. Forensic Update. 138, pp. 58-63. https://doi.org/10.53841/bpsfu.2021.1.138.58
Stalking
Wheatley, R. 2021. Stalking. in: Gredecki, N. and Turner, P. (ed.) Forensic Psychology Oxfordshire Routledge.
Brief overview of literature reviewing options
Carter, L. and Wheatley, R. 2021. Brief overview of literature reviewing options. Forensic Update. 138, pp. 27-31. https://doi.org/10.53841/bpsfu.2021.1.138.27
Researcher-practitioner reflections: the therapeutic utility of the visually adapted repertory grid technique (VARGT) with stalkers
Wheatley, R. and Kuss, D.J. 2020. Researcher-practitioner reflections: the therapeutic utility of the visually adapted repertory grid technique (VARGT) with stalkers. Journal of Forensic Practice. 22 (2), pp. 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1108/jfp-09-2019-0041
Using a visually adapted repertory grid technique (VARGT) with people who stalk
Wheatley, R., Winder, B. and Kuss, D.J. 2020. Using a visually adapted repertory grid technique (VARGT) with people who stalk. Journal of Forensic Practice. 22 (2), pp. 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1108/jfp-10-2019-0048
What are the features of psychopathology for men who commit stalking offences? A systematic review
Wheatley, R., Winder, B. and Kuss, D.J. 2020. What are the features of psychopathology for men who commit stalking offences? A systematic review. Aggression and violent behavior. 55, pp. 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2020.101461
‘It’s so Hard to Get Out of that Bubble’. A Phenomenological Analysis with Men Who Have Stalked
Wheatley, R., Winder, B. and Kuss, D. 2020. ‘It’s so Hard to Get Out of that Bubble’. A Phenomenological Analysis with Men Who Have Stalked. Journal of Forensic Psychology Research and Practice. 21 (3), pp. 249-282. https://doi.org/10.1080/24732850.2020.1855385
The Application of the Repertory Grid in Forensic Practice
Kitson-Boyce, R., Wheatley, R. and Blagden, N. 2020. The Application of the Repertory Grid in Forensic Practice. Journal of Constructivist Psychology. 35 (2), pp. 677-698. https://doi.org/10.1080/10720537.2020.1865222
‘The guy might not even be able to remember why he's here and what he's in here for and why he's locked in’: residents and prison staff experiences of living and working alongside people with dementia who are serving prison sentences for a sexual offence
Gayle Dillon, Vinter, L., Belinda Winder and Lela Finch 2018. ‘The guy might not even be able to remember why he's here and what he's in here for and why he's locked in’: residents and prison staff experiences of living and working alongside people with dementia who are serving prison sentences for a sexual offence. Psychology, Crime & Law. 25 (5), pp. 440-457. https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316x.2018.1535063