‘Obsessed’ man admits stalking woman

A man who pleaded guilty to stalking a woman in a “sinister” way was placed on bail when he appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court today.

Ewen Macpherson, 48, of Greenville, Fladdabister, admitted causing the woman fear and alarm by repeatedly phoning her and sending her unwanted communications, repeatedly driving slowly past her place of work and confronting her in a bar, shouting and swearing.

The offences took place between 1st March 2011 until this month. Police had twice warned him to stop contacting the woman.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said this amounted to “significant” offending because it had gone on for so long. He said Macpherson, who has no previous convictions, had been “robustly” warned by police on two occasions to stop his approaches.

Mr MacKenzie said: “This is sinister behaviour in the extreme. It could easily be addressed but he chooses not to do that.”

The sense of fear it had engendered in the woman was “understandable”, he said, and in spite of it being a first offence it was serious.

Defence solicitor Tommy Allan said Macpherson had not set out to cause fear and alarm – his actions were not done from malice but out of his “strong feelings” for the woman, which were “misplaced”.

However Mr MacKenzie said Macpherson had never been in a relationship with the woman and this was an “obsession he had developed on his own.”

Sheriff Philip Mann called for reports to “enlighten” him about the case and placed Macpherson on bail, with the special condition that he does not approach or contact the woman, including on social networking sites.

The case was adjourned until 7th February.