Jilted boyfriend stalked ‘nervous wreck’ ex
PLUMBER ALSO SPREAD MALICIOUS RUMOURS ABOUT DIVORCEE’S FORMER HUSBAND
A JILTED boyfriend who bombarded his ex-lover with gifts and flowers after she broke off their nine-month affair has been spared jail after stalking her and posting false messages about her former husband.
Neil Rowlinson, 57, sent red roses, £300 worth of jewellery, Chanel No 5 perfume and a bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne in a bid to win back Geraldine McGettrick when she threw him out of her home.
Divorced Miss McGettrick, who is in her 50s, eventually alerted police when she received a package saying ‘food parcel’ which contained vegetable peelers, carving knives and other various kitchen utensils.
She was said to be alarmed and distressed by the gifts and also messages she was getting from her ex – and even contemplated taking her own life.
Police warned plumber Rowlinson, from Stockport, to stay away but he then turned on Miss McGettrick’s publican ex-husband Anthony Mirdad instead – repeatedly posting Facebook messages falsely smearing him as a paedophile in the mistaken belief the former couple were back together.
One post read: “You do realise Gerry has been calling you a paedo to everyone – that is why she divorced you. I do not think you
will be doing anything with your partner’s kids any time soon. You brought this against upon yourself. You are welcome to her.’’
In a statement, Miss McGettrick said: “This has turned me into a nervous wreck – I am now paranoid to go outside as he has caused me so much grief. Originally he helped me when I had a broken hip but was a dominant character and would hover in and out of my kitchen.
“I didn’t want him in my life any more and I didn’t want the behaviour he was displaying so I asked him to move out. I knew he was sending items to me and it all became too much. I was upset and at one stage I did say I was thinking about suicide.”
Mr Mirdad said: ‘’My ex-wife and I divorced in 2007 and I have never even met this man. Yet he started posting about me calling me names and saying she had previously been involved with a person who was in a paedo ring and that he wanted to smash my pub up. Everything he posted disturbed me. The fact is when we divorced, it was nothing to do with paedophiles. I am just distraught about the whole incident. It is beyond me why he would put this on social media for all to see. It has put me in fear of my personal safety and for my business.”
At Tameside magistrates court Rowlinson admitted stalking between December 2020 and last January and sending false messages and was also ordered to pay Mr Mirdad £150 in compensation and Ms McGettrick £250 compensation.
He was further sentenced to 12 weeks jail, suspended for two years and must complete a Building Better Relationships programme plus 270 hours of unpaid work. He is now banned from contacting both Miss McGettrick and Mr Mirdad for two years under the terms of a restraining order. Rowlinson, who had a previous conviction for harassment from 2012, was also ordered to pay a £128 victim surcharge.
His lawyer Gavin Clarke said: “There has been no threats or intimidation. It is unwanted attention. He has also sent cards saying ‘I miss you and I love you.’”