A scorned woman has admitted stalking a Wiltshire police officer and two police staff after a “short sexual relationship” came to an end.
Former Gogglebox researcher Rachel Barnes, 27, reported the officer’s girlfriend for breaching coronavirus regulations as the country entered the third lockdown in January.
But her reports to police were born out of jealously – as she’d just recently discovered that following the ending of a casual relationship with him December, he’d already moved on.
Barnes also contacted the officer, stating she had seen him “having fun” with somebody else.
On two occasions she visited his new girlfriend’s home address in the Faringdon area, knocking on his door and pretending to be a delivery driver.
She was caught out when her housemate – who Barnes went to university with – answered.
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During her campaign of harassment, she made a fake Instagram account and attempted to contact the officer’s new girlfriend – who works as a local crime investigator at Wiltshire Police.
There were also attempts to contact his housemate – also a member of police staff – on Facebook.
At Swindon Crown Court today (10 December), the defendant, of Gas Lane, Cricklade, pleaded guilty to two counts of stalking and one count of stalking involving serious alarm or distress.
The offences related to stalking by Barnes between 1 January and 2 April this year.
The victim, a severing Wiltshire Police officer of unknown rank, met the woman on a dating app in September 2020 before having what is described as a “short sexual relationship” with her.
The court heard that she was convicted of breaching a stalking prevention order relating to the same victims earlier this year.
Judge Jason Taylor QC labelled her crimes as “serious offending” and told Barnes “you just don’t seem to stop” before ordering a pre-sentence report.
She was released on bail with conditions not to go to Gablecross Police Station unless accompanied by a police officer or to report a crime, not to be within 100 metres of any address where Barnes knows or believes any of her victims are living or visiting, and not to contact her victims directly or indirectly.
“Any hint of you breaching those conditions, it will go down like a led balloon”, he said. Adding: “All options are on the table.”
Barnes will return for sentencing at Swindon Crown Court at a later date.
