AIBU to be alarmed after a defendant contacted me?

We have no idea whether there has been any data breach. It's not necessarily difficult to find out someone's address once you have their name and their approximate age.

Thank you. Your opening sentence is exactly what I was going to write. I’ve been reading the thread with increasing horror.

It’s one thing not to know something, but to enthusiastically dish out misinformation like ‘GDPR breach’ and ‘it’ll be the defence solicitor’s fault, they’re bent’ is quite another. Terrible.

@ShapeofanLonmyforehead this is awful I’m so sorry to read this

as you have children I would also contact your local children’s services safeguarding team as they may also be able to provide some help and guidance.

Bit drastic but do you own/rent your house? Would you consider moving?
Not that you should have too.

You could also speak to a solicitor about the data breach as you may be eligible for compensation.

No it hasn’t. This is not witness intimidation. It is a data breach.

It is also not appropriate to call 999 to discuss it. The OP should make a complaint via the CPS who can investigate whether or not they inadvertently passed details to the defence.

Of course if the OP’s address is available in the public domain already then he may have simply tracked her down using her name and a rough location (town or county where the incident took place). Names are provided in court.

When I went through this and took our abuser to Family Court, I had to use a c/o address in case my address was accidentally leaked to our perpetrator via court paperwork or CAFCASS/Social Care reports.

I gave a statement as a witness once and I was not happy when the police told me that my name goes on the front page. My surname is not common. I don’t think I’d ever give evidence again tbh, it was stressful going to court three times and I felt that if I was recognised on the street, I could be attacked

This was a criminal case not civil. The OP won’t have ‘solicitors’ to contact. She was a witness in the CPS (probably - there are other prosecuting agencies) case against the defendant.

This doesn't merit 999 call, surely?

I think your name would be on your statement, which would be in the defence file. He shouldn’t have your address but it’s possible he has figured that out from the context. Or it hasn’t been redacted correctly.

Agree with this and you should also contact the Information Commissioner (ICO) whose responsibility it is to investigate data breaches. And tell the police you have reported it to the ICO.

If it’s a GDPR breach then the ICO are the people to contact as well.

100% Agree there is no way this person should be writing to you or any other witnesses.
I’d be very clear that this is causing you stress & that your afraid, of what will happen as & when this person is freed.
whatever you do don’t understate your fears because if you don’t make them clear they won’t act; something has gone very wrong in order for them to get your personal details & that also needs investigating; if the person is found they too need to be prosecuted.
stay strong & good luck xx

Also contact the prison who should vet all Mail coming in and going out. They need to be aware

So very sorry that you have been let down so badly by the people who you should be able to trust. Absolutely complain and keep on until you get answers. Maybe go to your local police station and refuse to leave until you have some answers and reassurance. I must say that I was always unsure of getting involved and now I never would. It's such a shame for decent people like yourself.

Contact the prison , they will stop his mail coming through. And the police asap.

This is what made me not want to stop to report a crime about ten years ago. I was a
worried my address would be read out in court in the event of me being a witness.

I did jury service two years ago and the witnesses that attended had their address called out too in front of everyone.

I i hope this is taken really seriously!! Awful!

You can claim compensation under gdpr. This is really serious too. Dont get fobbed off

Have you reported this to the Information Commissioner? I expect they will take something like this seriously.

This is an attempt to pervert the course of justice as well as a GDPR breach. Write to the CPS and to the Chief Constable of the relevant police force and say you are making a formal complaint. You should also consider asking for witness protection as the man has your name and address and has a history of violence. The police should provide this.

When i was in family court my new address was ro be kept private and not disclosed to violent other parent.... I had to move leave everything everyone etc.... yet he still managed to get it as his solicitor was allowed to have it so therefore it was in the documents that he had access to... apparently things like address and things that make person identifiable should be blanked out but often some missed or not done all together !!

As well as all the other measures, I’d write to my MP, too.

Yep. The GDPR is law with very serious repercussions. When I think of all the training and all the inconveniences everyone has to put up with in education and the NHS and IT to protect privacy, and then you’re telling me some smart ass lawyers just t handed personal details out as if it doesn’t matter, as if they’re above the law?

There’s just been headlines screaming for blood because some NHS staff looked up records for cryin out loud! Just looked them up out of morbid curiosity, not to intimidate witnesses as known violent criminals!! But lawyers can hand your address out to criminals?

This is not ok op. Get your MP involved and yes, the Information Commissioner is also obliged to help in this instance. If there’s a loophole in this most significant of areas it needs closing, quickly.

Get onto your solicitors immediately. Not only is this a breach of confidentiality it's also something that potentially puts both you and your family at risk because if he knows so do his friends and family

My dh is an ex policeman. He said if your statement goes to court you can't be anonymous. Or at least you couldn't when he left.

How shocking, I’d contact your MP now, you need all the support you can get.