James Steele case: Predatory stalkers play a psychological game of power and control

From the very first unwanted embrace of the victim to ultimately attempting to break in to her house fully prepared with rope, duct tape and a prosthetic penis, James Steele was exerting control over the victim, insidiously and coercively

James Steele's victim Una Ring at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, flanked by Inspector Eoghan Healy and Sergeant John Sharkey. Picture: Daragh McSweeney/Cork Courts Limited

On Thursday, a man was sentenced to seven years in prison, with the last two years suspended, at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. 

This newspaper described 52-year-old James Steele as having become obsessed with a woman and went on to harass and threaten to rape her.