Stalker ducks harassment conviction
A HOCKEY umpire who stalked an Otago women’s rep player has dodged a conviction so he can pursue his dream of officiating overseas.
Gareth Eion Williams (29) has worked his way up the refereeing ranks and was named the country’s most promising at the sport’s national awards ceremony in May.
But beneath his rise to success lay a dark secret — ‘‘an obsession’’.
Williams was seeing a woman who plays for the regional representative team, the Southern Storm.
When that relationship soured, the star umpire struggled to let go.
The Dunedin District Court this week heard Williams was served with a harassment order on March 20.
But within two weeks, he was bombarding the victim with Facebook messages before following them up with ‘‘numerous’’ text messages and phone calls.
When the woman did not reply, Williams threatened to hurt himself.
‘‘You made extravagant remarks about what you were going to do to yourself,’’ Judge John Macdonald said.
Tensions came to a head at the Otago Hockey turf in Harbour Tce on July 11.
Williams approached his exgirlfriend and asked to speak to her.
Again, she rejected his advances.
The woman had an associate walk her to her car but Williams was not to be deterred.
He followed, stating he would not leave her alone.
She drove back to her motel while Williams followed in his car. When the victim reached her room, she dashed in and hid.
Police were called and found Williams, who accepted he had breached the order ‘‘and agreed he had an obsession with the victim that was not healthy’’.
He pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal harassment but applied for a discharge without conviction on the basis it would prevent him from becoming an umpire on the national panel and from fulfilling his goal to follow his passion internationally.
‘‘In the next couple of years I hope to break into the national league,’’ Williams told the Otago Daily Times after winning his award six months ago.
‘‘But I do really want to break into the national league and, potentially, one day get put on international games. It is certainly a lofty goal.’’
‘‘The evidence is clear in that regard,’’ the judge said. ‘‘That’s been a lifetime pursuit for you.’’
The court heard a criminal record would also stop Williams coaching children.
Judge Macdonald said the gravity of Williams’ offending was at the lower end of the spectrum and the consequences of conviction would be out of all proportion in the circumstances.
Police did not oppose the discharge but sought a protection order on behalf of the victim.
After reviewing the legislation, the judge said he could grant both.
He hoped the order already in place would be enough to deter Williams from stalking the woman further.
‘‘I trust this is the end of your appearances in court and you’ll leave the victim alone,’’ the judge said.