Man admitted stalking after sending 300 messages to woman in four days

John Gardner carried out a “relentless” pursuit of a woman he had known for years, a court heard.

Gardner also sent flowers to her workplace, and parked near her home.

South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court was told he asked her out for a drink in a Facebook message and the pair spent two hours socialising – but the woman made it clear there would be no romantic involvement.

She contacted police when he called her numerous times, parked his motor close to her home and fired off the messages between Sunday, December 13 and Wednesday, December 16.

Gardner has now been issued with a two-year restraining order to stay away from her and her home.

Prosecutor Lesley Burgess said: “She had known the defendant for a number of years, and she was friendly.

“She received a friend request from him on Facebook which sat there for a while until she decided to accept it.

“They then went out for a drink, but she says she always said she didn’t want a relationship.

“He asked for a relationship but she said no. There’s a number of telephone calls and a number of messages.

“They were relentless, and she also saw his vehicle outside her house. There were about 300 messages over the days of the charge.

“There were also flowers sent to her workplace. She wanted to be grateful, they were lovely, but she didn’t want them.

“She had to go to stay with her daughter for some time over the concerns that she had.”

Richard Copsey, defending, said the matter could have been resolved without a charge if police had issued Gardner with a formal warning, which they appeared not to have done.

Mr Copsey added: “It’s just a very sad situation. He believes that the 18 months when his mother died, he had a recurring breakdown.”

Gardner, of Charters Crescent, South Hetton, who pleaded guilty to stalking without causing fear, alarm or distress, was also given a 12-month community order, with a requirement of 15 days of rehabilitation work.

He was fined £50, and must pay £85 court costs and a £95 victim surcharge.

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