Victoria Taylor's client acquitted of stalking.

Victoria’s client was faced with an allegation that he had stalked a co-worker. The Crown alleged that he had given her unwanted gifts and cards, had booked hoax appointments in her work calendar, and had made calls to her from withheld numbers. It was also alleged that he had sought out personal details about her address, family members, and routes where she went running.

Victoria persuaded the Bench to exclude the evidence of one of the Crown’s witnesses on the basis that she would give inadmissible ‘bad character’ evidence, and any other evidence she could give would be irrelevant to the charge.

In cross-examination, Victoria undermined the complainant’s account that she had never discussed personal details with the defendant, and that her intention was for their relationship to remain strictly as work colleagues. The complainant agreed that she had not told the defendant to cease contact, and that she had initiated contact on occasion, including sending photographs of herself and ‘x’s’ at the end of her messages.

The Bench was persuaded that although the course of conduct could amount stalking, the defendant did not know, and it could not be said he ought to have known, that it was stalking.

As a result of the ongoing proceedings, the defendant had been dismissed by one employer and suspended by another. A conviction would have risked the defendant’s ability to work in his sector, as it requires vetting. The defendant’s acquittal meant that he not only kept his good character, but he can continue to progress in his career.

Victoria was instructed by Dev Jummoodoo of Rosewood Solicitors.