The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Sheriff’s prison warning for ‘idiot’ stalker
Alyth man breached order by leaving chocolates, a CD, beer and letters outside home of 15-year-old girl
A stalker spent Christmas behind bars after leaving chocolates, a CD and beer at the door of his teenage victim’s home.
Samuel Hill had been warned by a court to stay away from the girl just two days earlier after he admitted monitoring her movements on social media following the break-up of their brief relationship.
The 21-year-old, who spent six months hounding the then-15-year-old, was handed a two-year non-harassment order at Perth Sheriff Court on December 18.
But just days later, on December 24, he was arrested and forced to remain in custody until the courts reopened on December 27.
Hill, of Airlie View, Alyth, admitted breaching a non-harassment order barring him from contacting his victim on December 20.
He was sentenced to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work and placed on a six-month supervision order.
Sheriff William Wood blasted Hill for ignoring the court order when he returned to Perth Sheriff Court.
He said: “My last words to you was not to do anything foolish in relation to the complainer. Only days after that you are being an idiot.
“If I hear you have been in contact with the complainer in any way I will send you to prison – if you breach this again that’s what you are facing.”
The court heard Hill was seen in the shop in the victim’s home village the day after his original sentencing and the items were found at her home the next morning.
Depute fiscal Bill Kermode told the court the girl, who is now 16, recognised Hill’s handwriting on letters left alongside the gifts.
He said: “She confirmed it was the accused’s handwriting and that the album was personal to her and the accused.
“Police traced the accused in Blairgowrie. He was searched and a till receipt was found in his pocket which related to the beer and chocolates.”
Solicitor Paul Ralph, defending, said Hill’s time spent behind bars had served as a harsh lesson.
He said: “Three nights in custody caused him to reflect on his behaviour.”
Following his December 18 court appearance, Hill was ordered to carry out 98 hours of unpaid work after he admitted engaging in conduct which caused fear or alarm to the girl between May 20 and November 1 2018.
He also admitted driving past and sitting outside her home, sending messages to her and monitoring her location, using Snapchat mapping, at various places around Perthshire.