‘CLINGY’ STALKER SENT HIS EX FLOWERS... AND A TAKEAWAY
Victim blocked former partner on social media accounts
STALKER David O’connor constantly contacted his ex-partner on social media and sent her flowers and a takeaway after she dumped him.
The 21-year-old became ‘too clingy to the point of obsession’ which led to his partner ending their relationship.
But he constantly contacted her by Instagram, Facebook and phone, sent her flowers and created alternative social media sites in the hope she would respond.
He wrote her a letter and was given a police warning under the Harassment Act. But about a week later he sent her a takeaway. And a few weeks later he came into contact with her at Lyme Valley Park in Newcastle.
Now O’connor has been handed a 12 month community order with a rehabilitation activity requirement for 30 days at Stoke-on-trent Crown Court.
Prosecutor David Farley said his partner ended their relationship after he became ‘too clingy to the point of obsession’.
Mr Farley said: “He constantly contacted her by Instagram, Facebook and telephone. He was not abusive but would not accept it was over.
“She blocked him from social media accounts. He sent her flowers and continued to try and contact her. He created alternative social media accounts in the hope she might respond to those.
“On August 4 he sent her a letter in which he blamed himself and maintained a hope they may still be friends. As a result of the letter she called the police and he was warned under the Harassment Act.
“He left her alone for about a week. But on August 17 he sent her a takeaway with a note saying she should enjoy the food.”
And on August 28 the pair came into contact when she was at Lyme Valley Park in Newcastle.
The court heard the intensive contact has exacerbated the victim’s depression. O’connor, of Herd Street, Burslem, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to stalking. Andrew Turnock, mitigating, said his client was suffering from an ‘adjustment disorder’ at the time of the offending. But he has not contacted the complainant while on bail.
Mr Turnock said: “There were no threats and no attempts to intimidate.”
Recorder Martin Wasik made O’connor the subject of a restraining order which prevents him having any contact with his victim for five years.
Recorder Wasik told O’connor: “She decided to end the relationship and you found it difficult to accept.
“I suspect you became over-preoccupied with your own feelings and did not give sufficient thought to her right to make her own choices. She made her decision clear. The relationship is over. You have got to respect that. It is over.”