|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
By Alric Lindsay
A man who pleaded guilty to stalking his female neighbour in North Side was sentenced to four months in prison yesterday, August 25, 2025. However, this time is likely to be already spent since he reportedly served several months to date. Notwithstanding this, a protection order was issued against the man, preventing him from going within fifty yards of the woman.
Background
Crown Counsel from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions explained that the man and the victim lived close to each other in an apartment complex in North Side.
On December 19, 2024, the man reportedly went to the woman’s apartment and knocked on the door.
Although the woman heard the knocking on the door, she was not expecting anyone.
She looked through the window and saw the man, whom she had seen walking around the complex several times before but had never interacted with.
Reportedly, the man waited around her door and knocked on it intermittently for about 20 to 30 minutes, saying “hello.”
The woman became uncomfortable, and at one point, she looked through the blinds and observed the man attempting to peek inside her apartment. She could hear him pressing his body against the front door and pacing between the window and the door.
The incident caused the woman to become nervous and uncomfortable.
In the circumstances, she called 911 and reported the incident.
When police officers arrived, they gave the man a warning and left the premises.
The next day, December 20, 2024, the man returned to the woman’s apartment, stood outside her window staring into it and made hand gestures with his hands, appearing to be talking.
The woman called 911 again; however, this time, the man was arrested by the police.
Reportedly, due to the incident, the woman suffered anxiety and felt fear and uncertainty. She started to constantly look over her shoulder and examine the apartment complex before entering and leaving her apartment.
Concerning sentencing recommendations, DPP Crown Counsel said the offence was considered to be category two with lower culpability. Therefore, she suggested a starting point of three months in custody, with a sentencing range of community order to six months in prison.
Arguing on the man’s behalf, Defence Counsel John Furniss explained that after the incident, the man checked into a halfway house for about four months. Subsequently, he reportedly checked himself out without permission.
He was later remanded and was in custody for about four months until last week, when he was finally bailed.
Furniss also confirmed that the man was on an electronic monitor during this time.
After hearing arguments from legal counsels, the Chief Magistrate said that the man’s behaviour was unacceptable.
The Magistrate added:
…this fixation that you had where [you] believed that she was in love with you, I don’t know where you could possibly have gotten that from.
Accepting the DPP Crown Counsel’s recommended sentence, the Chief Magistrate sentenced the man to four months in prison. However, she noted that the man had already spent time in prison and, as such, time served to date would be taken into account.
The Chief Magistrate put in place an additional measure in the form of a protection order. In the circumstances, the man must not go within 50 yards of the woman and must not have any direct or indirect contact with her. Lastly, he must not go to where she lives -whether in Frank Sound or anywhere else. The Chief Magistrate warned the man that if he breaches the protection order, he will go to prison.
