A retired royal train driver has been convicted of stalking a teenage supermarket cashier.
First offender Andrew Culliford, aged 69 – who bought himself a cottage near a station to stay close to his love of railways – pestered 19-year-old Deanne Green by frequently turning up at her till at the Tesco store at Inshes retail park in Inverness between October 1, 2015, and September 16 last year.
Despite being told to stop by managers and then being banned by them from entering the supermarket, the police eventually became involved when Culliford, of Station Cottages, Tomatin, left a letter for the woman on the windscreen of her car.
At Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday, Culliford admitted engaging in a course of conduct which caused Ms Green fear and alarm by repeatedly attending her check-out, leaving a Christmas card and leaving a letter on her car.
He was placed under social work supervision for two years by Sheriff David Sutherland after sentence had been deferred for a background report.
After reading Culliford’s letter to Ms Green, the Sheriff told Culliford: “Whatever your intention, this was clearly concerning to the young lady.”
Fiscal depute Karen Smith told the court that at first Culliford’s visits to the store did not cause alarm.
“But over the coming months he regularly attended at her check-out and gave her a Christmas card.
“At one stage colleagues called support staff when he arrived at her check-out again.
“Staff explained to him that he should no longer approach her till but they had to formally bar him from the store to prevent him.
“Things came to a head when she was leaving the store to go to her car and there was a letter on her windscreen. She became upset and managers contacted the police.”
Defence lawyer Marc Dickson explained that the railway was his client’s life.
“He was a train driver for the Royal Scotsman and achieved the accolade of driver of the year. He also drove the Royal train when the Royal family were in the area.
“He devoted his life to the job and had no relationships. He lives quite an isolated life and shopping was his only real social contact.
“He thought there was a connection between the two of them and endeavoured to talk to her. When he was asked by management to leave her alone, he left her a letter.
“There has been no problem since and he has not gone to the store.” Mr Dickson added.
