Scots TV presenter Isla Traquair has said it’s a “miracle” that the trial of her stalker even secured a conviction after the authorities “completely messed up” her case.
The former STV and Channel 5 newsreader has criticised Wiltshire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for mishandling her “devastating” ordeal.
Neighbour Jonathan Barrett, 54, was yesterday spared jail and instead sentenced to 300 hours of community service and ordered to pay £715 in costs.
But following his frightening “campaign of vengeance” against her, Ms Traquair then hit out at his punishment, explaining: “I cannot feel safe while he’s free”.
The 42-year-old, who was born in Aberdeen, called for Wiltshire Police officers to get more training to better understand stalking.
“I was living next door to the boogeyman man and the only advice I was given to keep me safe by three experts, including the police, was to move out,” she said.
“Stalking is the crime that is most likely to result in rape, murder, or serious harm.
“There’s a huge risk. The reoffending rates are huge. It’s a big problem and it’s not being treated properly.”
She told the Press and Journal that police and prosecutors had relied entirely on Ms Traquair recording her own photo and video evidence to build a case.
It included a video showing the “erratic” neighbour wandering her garden in his dressing gown and taking photos of her property, just days after being released on bail.
In another video, the “weird” professional gardener appears to be naked in his own garden as he props up a ladder-like clothes-drying rack against Ms Traquair’s fence.
A photograph was also taken of Barrett staring up at Ms Traquair’s bedroom window as her brother installed a security camera to keep her safe.
And in another video, the creepy stalker is seen on his own property, walking up to his victim’s newly-installed security gate and peeping round to look into her garden.
“In court, I discover that crucial evidence was not submitted by the CPS for which the prosecutor apologised and said I had been badly let down by the CPS,” Traquair revealed.
“I was warned after I gave evidence to expect a not guilty verdict. My case was not handled properly. They completely messed up my case.
“It really is a miracle that I got a conviction at all.”
It’s also emerged that Barrett’s prosecution almost didn’t go ahead.
His behaviour had forced Ms Traquair to flee her home and rely on friends all over to take her in.
She said: “At one point I was told the case might be dropped because I was in America.
“I almost had a breakdown. I broke down in tears and I considered just dropping it.”
During Jonathan Barrett’s trial, Salisbury Magistrates Court heard that he’d stalked Ms Traquair between March and September 2021.
It eventually led to her fleeing her idyllic 1700s country cottage, on the edge of the Cotswolds.
Barrett’s unwanted attention included staring into his victim’s bedroom window.
He even “chainsawed” a bush in Ms Traquair’s garden, and climbed over her wall to enter the woman’s house and offer her a sandwich.
Behaving badly in court
While Barrett was in the dock, he talked over his victim as she gave evidence from behind a screen so she didn’t have to see him.
“He gesticulated to the point the magistrates had to tell him to stop, which was alarming for me to hear.”
Remorseless Barrett’s bad behaviour escalated even further as he exited the courtroom with his lawyer.
Ms Traquair explained: “When they left the room after the video screen failed, Mr Barrett came out of the dock and walked round the table to where he could see me behind the screen”.
Isla Traquair: Stalking does not leave a physical bruise but I will never be the same
But she wasn’t allowed to read out a revised version, which she had updated before appearing via live video link.
However, writing about her experience for the Press and Journal, the statement Ms Traquair had wanted to read out has been published in full.
In the article, she begins: “What you’re about to read is the victim impact statement I was prevented from reading in court.
“Victims are encouraged to rewrite and revise their victim impact statement to reflect what happens up until the time of sentencing but the lawyer representing my stalker Jonathan Barrett objected.”
Police force’s reaction to this story
Reacting to Ms Traquair’s claims, Wiltshire Police said it could not provide a response from the officer overseeing the case in time for the publication of this news story.
But a spokesman added: “We take all reports of stalking and harassment incredibly seriously and we would always encourage victims to come forward.
“Our officers understand the impact that these types of offences have on victims, and we work hard to provide the relevant training and education so they know the most appropriate way to handle these sorts of investigations.
“Anyone who has concerns can report this to the police and can also get further information and support by contacting the National Stalking Helpline – Telephone: 0808 802 0300.”
The CPS, which has also been contacted for comment, suggested it was the responsibility of the police to format the victim impact statement into a useable court document.
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