The anti stalking crusader guilty of ...stalking
THE former wife of an antistalking charity boss has told of her torment as he waged a nine-month campaign of harassment against her.
Elaine Ferrie, 54, was repeatedly contacted and approached by ex-husband Peter Noreiko, in an ordeal that impacted ‘every aspect’ of her life.
Noreiko, 67, previously spearheaded Action Against Stalking, a group that successfully campaigned to make stalking a criminal offence.
It was under Section 39 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 – the law that his organisation championed – that he was charged.
Noreiko left the charity earlier this year, before being charged with numerous stalking offences against his former wife, it is understood.
Ayr Sheriff Court heard how he had repeatedly driven past her
‘No one is above the law’
house in Troon, Ayrshire, and had on one occasion turned up uninvited on her doorstep.
He also appeared at her workplace, contacted her friends and colleagues to ask about her and bombarded Miss Ferrie with text messages and emails.
In one incident, Noreiko followed her in a car, repeatedly sounding the horn and flashing his lights while driving behind her.
The retired businessman’s campaign of harassment lasted for a total of nine months.
Last Friday he pleaded guilty to the charges. Sentencing was adjourned until next month.
After the case, Miss Ferrie said she wanted her ‘voice to be heard’ to encourage other victims of stalking to come forward. She told The Herald newspaper: ‘My advice to anyone who is being stalked is don’t keep it to yourself. You have not done anything wrong. Being stalked is not your fault.
‘Until I had been the victim of stalking myself, I didn’t fully appreciate just what this crime really meant, nor did I understand what it’s really like to be a victim of persistent and unwanted attention.
‘It impacted on every aspect of my life. It has only been the wonderful support I received that has helped me cope.’
Miss Ferrie said she wished she had reported the crime to Police Scotland earlier and she praised officers who had made her feel ‘validated and valued’. She also paid tribute to South Ayrshire Women’s Aid and domestic abuse advocacy group Assist.
Miss Ferrie added: ‘Each organisation who supported me throughout this ordeal played a vital role and I think that’s what I want to say to other victims out there.
‘Don’t try to deal with it on your own. Get help. Report it to the police.
‘The sooner you do it, the less impact there will be on your life.
‘I never thought this would happen to me but sadly it did. I realise that it is very important to tell people and get as much support as you can.’
Ann Moulds, chief executive of Action Against Stalking, said: ‘It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do, no one is above the law.
‘No matter why a person chooses to stalk and no matter what their reason is, it cannot ever be used as an excuse for the stress and harm they cause to their victim.’
Police investigated more than 1,000 cases of alleged stalking in the three years after the legislation came into force.