A BENDIGO man who stalked his former partner for more than six months by arriving at her work unannounced, leaving flowers and letters at her car, and paying a parking fine without her knowledge has been fined $2000.
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The man in his 40s, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty in the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court last week to stalking offences.
The stalking started in late 2015 when their relationship of four years ended, after the woman noticed an email exchange between the man and another woman.
The man left roses and a letter at his former partner’s front door, before visiting her Bendigo workplace three times in two weeks.
On one occasion, he left candles, a rose and another letter at her car while she worked.
When the woman sent him a message saying the relationship was definitely over, he arrived at her workplace again with tickets to a concert.
The man then repeatedly visited a Bendigo supermarket late at night – at times when he knew the woman would be shopping.
The stalking expanded to the woman’s sister, who lived in another part of Victoria. The man visited the sister’s house multiple times, where he left letters to his former partner in the letterbox.
In one letter, he accused people of trying to “poison” his former partner by speaking poorly of him.
The unannounced workplace visits continued throughout the stalking period, even after the woman repeatedly told him to leave her alone, the court heard.
Over the space of two weeks, the man twice tried to give a USB to the woman which contained a movie he had created. He then dropped a DVD in the letterbox of the woman’s sister, containing the movie.
While attempting to visit her workplace again, the man noticed a parking fine on the woman’s car. The court heard he took it to the nearest post office, paid the fine, then placed it back on the windscreen with a note.
After more than six months, and several more late-night visits to the supermarket, the woman went to police and took out an intervention order which also covered the woman’s sister.
The man breached the order within a week however, after he sent a text to the sister.
The text went for more than three pages, the court heard. Screenshots were supplied to police.
The court heard the man “always anticipated that the relationship would resume”, but eventually accepted the situation and wanted to be “made accountable” by the courts.
Magistrate Peter Mithen said the stalking was “relentless”.
“When you were charged by police, you tried to shift the blame to someone else,” he said.
The man was convicted and fined $2000.