Stalker blasted by judge

A RETIREE has been lambasted by a Gold Coast magistrate for stalking a woman for seven years because “it amounted to ruining her life”.

Laslo Berta, 69, pleaded guilty to stalking a woman he met at a Southport medical centre in 2011.

The court was told Berta, a long-time Southport dental technician, and the woman struck up a friendship because they were both from eastern European countries and had a passion for European football.

Defence lawyer Troy Smith, of Hannay Lawyers, told the court Berta had developed a friendship with the married woman, which included going for walks together and meeting each other’s family members, until he tried kiss her.

“He mistook that they were in a relationship and he was extremely upset and embarrassed,” he told the court.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Matt Brooks told the court Berta began sending the woman text messages, left letters on her car while she was at work and sent faxes which read “happy birthday to a hot mumma”.

The woman was fearful of seeing him after a confrontation at a shopping centre.

The court heard Berta last tried to contact the woman on Christmas Day last year when he called her home and her husband answered.

Magistrate John Costanzo gave Berta two years probation and ordered him never to make contact with or come within 100m of the woman.

Magistrate Costanzo said men needed to understand that no means no.

“It amounts to ruining thing woman’s life — surely all a woman has to do is say stop?”