A support worker has appeared in court on a stalking charge after bombarding a colleague with dozens of YouTube videos of him singing.
Douglas Boal’s unsettling behaviour lasted for more than a month and on one occasion he sent her no less than 23 singing videos in the space of an evening.
Despite repeatedly being told to stop harassing her, Boal continued – and went on to confess he was in love with her.
Fiscal depute Kirsty Martin told Aberdeen Sheriff Court the 61-year-old was employed as a support worker with Lifeways Living Ambition when the stalking campaign began.
On March 25 2022, Boal texted the woman asking her to meet him at Triple Kirks for food and drinks.
Ms Martin said: “The accused said he had booked a work table and mentioned discussing one of their clients.
“He also asked for the complainer’s personal email address, stating it was for work purposes.”
The woman did not attend the pub but did provide her email address.
Stalker insisted he ‘wouldn’t be a sex pest’
That evening, she received no fewer than 23 emails from Boal containing links to YouTube videos he’d recorded of himself singing and playing instruments.
Ms Martin said: “The complainer felt very disturbed and found them inappropriate.
“She felt duped into giving him her personal email address when none of the emails were work-related.”
The emails continued into April and the woman, feeling harassed, asked him to only send her work-related emails.
On April 3, Boal texted the woman asking if he could send her an email and stating it was for work.
But it was another link to a video of him singing.
The woman felt this was inappropriate given that she’d already asked him to stop.
But Boal insisted he would be a “good friend, unlike most men, and wouldn’t be a sex pest”.
The female made clear she did not want to receive messages from Boal and did not want to be friends.
Confessed his love in message
Ms Martin said: “The accused sent a long message stating he’d been in love with the complainer since October 16 2021 and that he wanted her to be his girlfriend.
“The complainer was scared about the accused’s inability to take no for an answer.”
She contacted her manager to discuss making a complaint against Boal and blocked his number and email.
Another message sent by Boal to the woman contained a song with lyrics that caused her “distress”.
Following a meeting with her manager, the woman reported the matter to police and Boal was traced and arrested.
In interview, he admitted sending texts and emails to the woman and that she had asked him to stop but he continued.
They no longer work together.
Health issues in lead-up to offence
Boal admitted a charge of stalking the woman between March 25 2022 and April 26 by repeatedly and persistently sending her texts and emails containing links to videos he made for her and refusing to desist.
Defence agent Ian Woodward-Nutt said his client had never been in trouble before.
He went on to describe a number of health issues Boal had faced, including being bipolar.
He said: “The health background is highly significant in the commission of this offence.”
The solicitor explained Boal’s mood became “unstable” in the lead-up to the offence.
He had been becoming “increasingly elated” due to getting back in contact with his daughter after having not spoken to her in some time.
Mr Woodward-Nutt said: “That seems to have significantly impacted on his health and he accepts that, during the period of the libel, his judgement and mood were affected to the extent he engaged in a course of communication with a colleague that was entirely inappropriate.”
‘Behaviour was not only inappropriate but criminal’
He added Boal had a “manic episode” soon after the incident.
Boal is now “far more stable” following a change to his mediation.
Sheriff Ian Wallace told Boal: “It’s clear your actions caused significant distress to the complainer.
“I’m satisfied, however, that the background to this offending is your mental health difficulties and this was a period of significant instability in your mental health.
“You now recognise your behaviour was not only inappropriate but criminal.
“You’re continuing to receive help from mental health professionals and, as a result, your mental health is much improved.”
The sheriff fined Boal, of Great Northern Road, Aberdeen, £320.
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