Former England and Liverpool footballer Stephen Warnock assisted in the capture of a man who had been spying on two women for weeks by waiting for him. The ex-defender, now a pundit, took action after the man was repeatedly caught on the women’s Ring doorbell camera. Monitoring the situation with his fiancée, who is related to one of the victims, Warnock parked nearby when the man was expected to show up.
Upon realizing he was being watched, the man fled, leading Warnock on a 40-minute chase until the police, alerted by a 999 call, were able to apprehend him. The individual, identified as Andrew Mulhearn, lived on the same street as the victims in Mossley Hill, Liverpool. Mulhearn, aged 30, was given a suspended 12-week prison sentence for two counts of harassment without violence, spanning several weeks the previous summer.
Warnock explained that his personal motivation stemmed from having daughters and the injustice of women feeling unsafe in their own homes. He expressed the need to take action when the police lacked the necessary resources. Mulhearn’s harassment began when he was caught on the Ring doorbell camera, initially mistaken for a potential burglar but later revealed to be peering into the women’s window at the same time each night.
Despite being advised by the police to call 999 if the man returned, Warnock felt compelled to keep watch outside the house. He eventually spotted Mulhearn and began following him discreetly to gather more information. With the help of another individual, Mulhearn was eventually detained by the police after being tailed by Warnock.
Mulhearn, initially denying any wrongdoing, admitted guilt in court and was sentenced to rehabilitation days and unpaid work. Warnock’s intervention was crucial in ensuring the safety of the victims and shedding light on the impact of harassment. He emphasized the importance of understanding the victims’ perspective and taking action against such predatory behavior.