A DRIVING instructor stalked a woman for 18 months because he wanted to be a “friendly neighbour”.
Robert Fowler began to develop feelings for Ann Ellis when she turned to him for support after her marriage broke up.
But the 51-year-old’s behaviour quickly became “bizarre”, and for more than a year he followed her around Kemnay and “bombarded” her with texts and phone calls.
He was also caught waiting for her outside Kintore Primary School when she was employed as a cleaner.
Fowler previously admitted stalking Ms Ellis between December 2013 and June 2015, and appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday for sentencing.
Fiscal depute Lynzi Souter said he would frequently follow his victim around the village as she drove to work or to the shops.
Mrs Souter said: “In the summer of 2014 the complainer noticed that every time she came home from work and parked in her driveway the accused would engage her in conservation.
“He would ask things like ‘are you talking to me yet’ and ‘will you come to my house for a cup of coffee’.
“At other times she noticed the accused driving closely behind her.
“She would make attempts to lose the accused by driving down different streets but the accused would follow her vehicle.”
The court heard that initially Ms Ellis did not want the police to take any criminal action against him but asked if they would speak to him to warn him off.
However the warning made little difference and he continued to pester her daily.
Fowler, who runs his own driving school, also began washing his car every evening at the same time he expected Ms Ellis to return home.
Mrs Souter said his victim started to alter the times she would arrive back, but Fowler always still managed to be outside waiting for her.
She added that on one occasion, Ms Ellis noticed Fowler was following her and was so scared she ended up driving in a large circle to try and shake him off.
And when this didn’t work she drove to Inverurie Police Station, only to find it closed.
Mrs Souter said at this point Fowler’s victim was so upset by his behaviour she drove to her work where a colleague told her to call the police.
When interviewed about his behaviour Fowler told officers that he “simply wanted to be a friendly neighbour”.
Representing the first offender solicitor Keidra Morrison said her client had lived at 70 Fraser Place for 40 years.
She said Fowler had not intended to cause Ms Ellis any upset.
She said: “He is deeply ashamed of his actions. he never meant to cause her any upset or distress. He found himself developing feelings for the complainer after her marriage broke down.
“On some occasions, following her became unavoidable because of the close proximity in which they live.”
Sheriff Alison Stirling said she took into account his lack of previous convictions and ordered him to be under supervision of social workers for the next nine months. He also has to complete 100 hours of unpaid work within that time.
