A stalker restaurateur created a Facebook account under the name of a Bengali romantic tragedy novel, filled it with pictures of his victim then used it to send her a string of “inappropriate” messages during a campaign of harassment.
Mohammed Mohiuddin today avoided jail after a sheriff told him his behaviour was “wholly inappropriate and badly judged”.
He met his victim after her husband began working at Mohiuddin’s restaurant.
They met at a Bangladeshi community event – prompting married Mohiuddin to become obsessed with her.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard Mohiuddin was repeatedly seen watching her outside her work and her home.
On various occasions he approached her and told her: “Whenever I see you I and my restaurant will have a good day.”
Mohiuddin – who runs the Maisha Indian restaurant in St Andrews, Fife – broke down in tears as the details of his crimes were read to the court.
Then, in May last year, Mohiuddin’s victim received a series of messages on Facebook from a user called “Deb Das” which had Mohiuddin’s picture attached.
The court heard Deb Das is the name of a Bengali romance novel that charts the story of two childhood sweethearts forced apart and the “tragedy that ensues”.
Fiscal depute Mohamad Sadiq told the court: “A number of messages were received and she noticed that a large number of photos of her on the profile.
“There were a large number of images of her and her family, a number of which were also on his phone.
“During the months preceding this the lady noticed that when she went to close the blinds at her home the accused’s Mercedes would be parked outside and he would appear to be looking at her through the windows.
“She stopped going to Bangladeshi community events and felt very uncomfortable.
“His conduct appeared to have stopped when she received the Facebook messages.
“The woman said she was extremely fearful of the accused.”
Mohiuddin, 48, of Blake Avenue, Dundee, pleaded guilty to a charge of stalking committed between February 1 2012 and June 30 2014.
Grant Bruce, defending, said: “There was no harm intended to this lady.”
Sheriff Alistair Brown made a community payback order with 200 hours of unpaid work in the community.
He also imposed a five-year non-harassment order banning Mohiudding from approaching or contacting his victim, or publishing anything about her or pictures of her online.
Sheriff Brown said: “It appears to me that you formed a wholly inappropriate attachment to this woman and pursued it in a way which was very badly judged.
“It is a case of considerable concern to the court that this lady has been placed under extreme stress as a result.
“It was conduct in which no right thinking individual ought to have done.”
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