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Fury as internet stalker avoids jail

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Anti-stalking campaigners have condemned a court’s decision not to jail a north-east man who hounded a woman he had met on an internet dating site.

Simon Allen bombarded his victim with a series of increasingly disturbing phone calls and text messages.

After the pair split and she moved away, Allen tracked her down by running a check on her car registration plate and searching through council tax records.

He told her he had checked out her new home using the Google Earth service on the internet.

Yesterday, the 43-year-old appeared at Peterhead Sheriff Court, having earlier admitted targeting Lorna Clark with repeated calls and abusive text messages between October 2013 and February 23 this year.

Sheriff Andrew Miller fined Allen £400 and imposed a non-harassment order, banning him from having any further contact with Miss Clark.

The sentence was criticised last night by the campaign group Action Scotland Against Stalking.

Spokeswoman Ann Moulds, who was herself the victim of a prolonged stalking campaign, said: “Does £400 account for the months of psychological abuse this woman would have gone through? I don’t think so.

“It’s people like this that the courts need to be making an example of. A few hundred pounds is no punishment at all these days. It’s just a slap on the wrist.”

She added: “This would have been a very traumatic ordeal for this woman and it went on for some time. That needs to be reflected in the sentence.”

The court heard that the pair started dating in August 2013 but the relationship ended in October after Allen was caught cheating with another woman.

Despite being dumped, Allen, of 87 North Street, Aberchirder, continually phoned Miss Clark. She eventually blocked his number but he was still able to send her text messages.

In January, Miss Clark went to work at Woodend Hospital in Aberdeen. When her shift ended, she got into her car to go home and turned to see Allen standing at her window.

Fiscal depute Colin Neilson said: “She got a fright because she knew he lived some 50 miles away.”

Miss Clark made an excuse to get away from him. The court heard that witnesses at the hospital said she appeared nervous. In February, she received more texts from Allen, who said he had met someone new. The pair began exchanging messages.

The court heard he went on to make insulting comments about her cleanliness and said a young member of her family was “deformed”.

Miss Clark called police and officers raided Allen’s home, seizing his phone and computer.

Allen’s agent, solicitor Marianne Milligan, said her client was full of regret and remorse. “He is embarrassed and ashamed by his actions,” she said.

Sheriff Miller told Allen: “This is, of course, completely inappropriate conduct on your behalf.

“I can well understand why it must have been distressing and upsetting for the lady in question to have you behave in this way.”

He said that the non-harassment order, banning him from contacting or making attempts to contact Miss Clark, would stay in place for three years.

Miss Clark could not be contacted for comment last night.