A middle-aged woman has been convicted of stalking her former supermarket co-worker.
53-year-old Lesley Page, of Walter Close, pleaded guilty to the offence when she appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Monday (22 August).
Tom Power, prosecuting, said the defendant used to work with the victim at Asda and they were friends before she became “intense and obsessive in nature”.
Over the course of four months between January and April this year, Page repeatedly contacted the woman – claiming she loved her – and failed to stop when asked.
The defendant even sent the victim a photograph of herself, causing her enough concern to respond to Page to ask her where she had taken it.
Worried Page’s behaviour would escalate, the victim reported her to the police.
Mr Power described the case as “fairly serious” and requested a restraining order.
Liz Highams, defending, said that her client has not been subject to any bail conditions and has not contacted the victim further speaking to the police.
She said Page was unable to give an explanation for the behaviour, stating that she was drunk at the time of the incidents and could not recall events.
District Judge Joanna Dickens dismissed the claims, stating: “I don’t believe you didn’t know what you were doing, I believe you did.”
Adding that it was “an unpleasant offence of stalking but it is not the worse of its kind” and that the behaviour would have been “frightening for the victim”.
She imposed a 12-month community order – including 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days. A £95 surcharge was also imposed. No costs were awarded due to the defendant’s lack of means.
Judge Dickens advised Page to stay away from the victim but didn’t make a restraining order.
