A Prestatyn woman wants all victims told when their convicted stalkers are released from prison, after she suffered a terrifying encounter while shopping.

Singer and songwriter Chloe Hopkins, 28, was in the town’s Tesco store when the man recently jailed for stalking her appeared in front of her.

She was harassed and stalked from the age of 18 by obsessed loner Anthony James Mantova from Meliden and had no idea he had been released.

Now in his 40s, he was jailed three times for obsessing over the former beauty queen.

He had her name tattooed on his chest and chillingly even sported a t-shirt with her face emblazoned across it, as well as bombarding her with sexual messages.

Disabled Mantova, who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, suggested the former Miss Prestatyn’s tiara and sash “would look good” on his bedroom floor.

Chloe spiralled into depression and even took an overdose in a desperate bid to escape her tormentor.

She has rebuilt her life since Mantova, whom she never refers to by name, was jailed for the final time in 2016.

Yet the moment eight years ago, when she unexpectedly came face to face with him, stays with her.

Chloe, who’s now based in London, was unaware of his release and slowly building back her confidence when was she stopped in her tracks, paralysed with fear.

She said: “The second time he came out of prison I went into my local Tesco’s, minding my own business.

“I walked around a corner into the milk aisle and boom, I saw him there – it was a massive shock.

“You feel physically sick, you start crying, you start shaking, you can’t move, you’re frozen.

“It’s frightening because you’ve not been told they’ve come out.

“It’s difficult to explain but you need to be told so you can be prepared for it.”

She said all victims needs should be paramount in the criminal process

“We need that support of being told when they are coming out and where they’re going to be,” she said. “So we can mentally prepare ourselves in case we bump into them – it’s a horrible fright.”

Now an ambassador for the National Stalking Helpline and the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, Chloe spoke up to encourage women who might be in the same situation she endured to get help.

Her comments also came after North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones revealed reports of harassment and stalking had risen 30% during lockdown.

Mr Jones, addressing North Wales Police and Crime Panel this week, said some of the rise in complaints to the force could be explained by new reporting procedures – but not all of it.

He said new Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs) did give victims more say in their stalkers’ licence conditions and some would get more information on release – but not all of them.

Mr Jones added: “The new measures allow courts in England and Wales to move quicker to ban stalkers from contacting victims or visiting their home, place of work or study so victims are granted more time to recover from their ordeal.

“When the perpetrator is jailed for 12 months or more for a violent or sexual offence, including stalking then they are offered statutory victim services through Probation Service.

“This includes giving the victim a say on licence conditions and being informed of the details of the release of the perpetrator from prison.

“I do agree with Chloe that safeguards for victims need to be strengthened further.

“The law in relation to stalking and harassment should be looked at again, because there is a gap when perpetrators are jailed for less than 12 months.”

Chloe was invited to speak to police officers about the victim’s perspective a couple of years ago and made them aware of how scary the experience was.

She revealed the process of going through court was “daunting”, leaving her feeling almost like she was under suspicion, especially as Mantova made counter-claims against her character.

Chloe described herself as “naive” and “very much a Disneyland, unicorns and everything pink kind of person” when she first went through the legal process and was almost left feeling guilty herself.

She said: “The way he was accusing me of all sorts made me question myself and I found that really upsetting.

“If someone is saying bad things about you in a horrible situation, in a horrible place, you start thinking ‘Did I do that – did I get this wrong?’

“I had so many crazy thoughts going through my head. I didn’t want to be there – it’s a very scary process.

“But you’re going to have to go through this process whether it’s stalking, harassment or domestic violence, so police need to give victims that emotional support as much as they’re allowed to.”

Support from her family and friends reassured her she was doing the right thing, a decision vindicated by her pursuer being jailed three times.

“It’s not just about physically hurting someone, they get inside your head,” she continued.

“It’s all the mental games and torture they put you through, making out you’ve done something wrong, when actually you haven’t.

“The manipulation and head games are not nice – it’s horrible.

“These perpetrators are very clever.”

Chloe admitted she should have kept more evidence and spoken up sooner about the trauma she was experiencing.

She said: “If anyone is going through this situation speak up. Speak up fast, speak up now.

“Whether it’s to your neighbour, your postman, your friend, your family, anyone.

“Speak to anyone so you’ve got that mental support, that mental stability.

“Get a diary and note every single piece of evidence and action down from the person who’s stalking or harassing you – whether it’s letters through the post or messages.

“My problem was, because I was naive and young at the time when it started, all the stuff he sent to me I binned because I couldn’t stand it – it was worrying me and frightening me.

“I’m not as naive as I was 10 years ago, when I was 18. Little signs and little signals, things that aren’t typical human behaviour you become more aware of, you’re more awake.

“As you get older you notice the early warning signs earlier.

“If I’d kept most of the stuff I had been given it probably would have made it a lot stronger case, earlier.

“I was 18, thinking I was an adult, thinking I knew what was best.

“As soon as you can, go to the police with your evidence.”

She also claimed social media “makes us more vulnerable” and urged young people to be careful about what information they publicise.

Telling people to check their security settings, she said: “People don’t seem to realise you shouldn’t always put it on public.

“Do you really have 500 friends on Facebook that you know through and through that you send Christmas and birthday cards to every year?

“You don’t actually know everybody on your Facebook and you’ve got to be careful.”

Now, having started a new chapter in her life, brave Chloe wants people to know that speaking up and dealing with the problem can rejuvenate you.

However, she believes victims should give themselves time to restore their mental resilience.

“You can get back to where you want to be and build yourself back up again,” she said.

“It just takes time. It’s baby steps and it’s not going to happen overnight but you can get back up there and be where you want to be.

“It starts with telling someone, no matter what age you are.”

Chloe Hopkins is an ambassador for the National Stalking Helpline and the Suzy Lamplugh Trust.

If you are experiencing stalking or harassment call North Wales Police on 101 or live chat at: https://www.north-wales.police.uk/webchat/index.html

Contact the National Stalking Helpline at the Suzy Lamplugh Trust at www.suzylamplugh.org/contact or call 0808 802 0300