The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
‘Payback’ vow by man who stalked younger colleague
Asupermarket stalker who became obsessed with a young colleague posted a chilling “payback time” threat on Facebook.
Morrisons worker James Clarke targeted the woman for more than two months, following her around the Inverurie store and making offensive remarks online.
The 58-year-old, who attended Aberdeen Sheriff Court in military kit, also scrawled a message on the mirror in the women’s toilets in the supermarket.
The night before Thursday’s court appearance, Clarke posted on Facebook: “01/06/2023 AFTER THIS DATE (IT’S PAY Back TIME) ANYONE.
“When & where. A home or work. (Elgin, Inverurie, Kemnay) night or day. At any cost my live or yours?? Bitch.”
The Press and Journal challenged Clarke about the post as he left the court building. He told our reporter: “See what happens.”
Fiscal depute Lydia Ross told Aberdeen Sheriff Court that, in October 2021, his victim noticed a comment on her Facebook account stating “wide hips” along with a picture of a horse and a fox.
She didn’t think anything of it until a similar comment a week later.
On speaking to a friend, she realised the comments were posted by her colleague Clarke and blocked him.
But, a few days later, she noticed another profile with the name Bob Fox had liked a number of her pictures. She blocked that account too.
However, on checking her TikTok account, she saw that an account with the name Jim Fox had started following her.
Again, suspecting this to be Clarke, she blocked him.
She began to feel uncomfortable working
alongside him and discussed the matter with other colleagues, who agreed it was unacceptable.
Ms Ross told the court: “On November 15 2021, the comment ‘wide hips’ had been written in marker pen on the mirror, and signed, in the female toilets in the store.”
The matter was reported to colleagues and a meeting was held with Clarke where he admitted writing the comments but claimed he “did not mean it in the context it was taken” and apologised.
He was advised to stay away from the woman.
However, later, when she was working in the bakery aisle, Clarke repeatedly walked up and down the aisle staring at her.
When she was leaving at the end of the day, Clarke
walked past her and said “f ****** b **** ” before slamming a door.
On December 6, the woman again noted Clarke staring and muttering at her each time he passed, making her feel uncomfortable.
On December 10, she disclosed to a colleague what had been happening and how stressed it was making her.
The colleague then looked at Clarke’s Facebook page and found an album entitled “Freedom” which contained pictures of the woman along with bizarre notes mentioning “the devil”, “the lord” and alcohol.
An image of a handgun on a piece of fabric with the words “f*** you all” was also found.
The findings left the woman “extremely upset” and were reported to colleagues.
Not narrated in court, Clarke’s Facebook page uncovered other concerning posts. Police then became involved and executed a search warrant at Clarke’s home.
They found a number of “notations” both on Clarke’s person and in a safe with more strange ramblings.
They said: “For the first time and the last time I would like to hold you and to say sorry for what I said. “Life is too precious. “The b **** is back, queen herself.”
Clarke was approached for comment outside court. He said: “I’m not crazy, my reality is just different than yours.”
Each notation had the woman’s name at the bottom.
Clarke – who no longer works at Morrisons – admitted stalking the woman between October 1 and December 10 2021.
While the Crown checked the woman’s position on a non-harassment order being imposed, defence agent David Sutherland said: “Given what’s happened, there would be no objection to a nonharassment order.”
Sheriff Mungo Bovey said: “It seems appropriate regardless.
“It would be most unlikely that the complainer would be unhappy with one.”
The sheriff also noted that Clarke appeared to “minimise” the offence in a social work report.
Mr Sutherland said: “He’s 58 and she’s 20. It’s thoroughly inappropriate behaviour towards the complainer.
“There’s acceptance that it is inappropriate.
“He was dismissed as a result of this incident.”
Sheriff Bovey imposed a two-year supervision order and a non-harassment order for the same period.
He also fined Clarke, of Bremner Way, Kemnay, £707.