A man stalked a woman employed at a Dundee bank and repeatedly turned up at her work hoping to see her.
The sheriff court heard Steven Harper, 30, stalked Samantha Finlay for a year, during which time he made numerous appointments with her at her work and sent many texts requesting her company.
Harper, of Burnside Court, Whorterbank, first met Ms Finlay as she carried out her duties as a customer service adviser at Royal Bank of Scotland, High Street, on June 24 2013. He told Ms Finlay he was having issues with his account and made an appointment to come back to see her in a few days.
Fiscal depute Trina Sinclair told the court he also asked for her mobile phone number and was “visibly disappointed” when she declined.
The fiscal said: “Later that day, the complainer received a friend request on Facebook from the accused, which she ignored and blocked.
“When he attended for his appointment, he told the complainer there was no issue with his account, and he simply wished to try to get her number. She attempted to give him a false number to get him to leave, but she was feeling scared and gave him her actual number by mistake.”
Just three hours later, she received a text from him and replied: “I’m sorry I gave you my number, I’m in a relationship and can’t have contact from customers.”
Three weeks after that, Ms Finlay received another text from him requesting that they meet. She replied: “Don’t contact me, I won’t be meeting you anywhere.” Harper tried the same thing a week later.
Then, on August 12, Ms Finlay received a series of texts. Again Ms Finlay told Harper not to contact her, but he sent more messages.
The following day he turned up at her work and tried to book an appointment with Ms Finlay, which her manager cancelled after he said it was to “speak with Sam”.
On August 28, Ms Finlay changed her mobile number and Harper turned up at the bank that same day asking to speak with her, but other staff members refused.
In November, she received an email from him asking to meet up, and later told police she had “no idea” how he got her email address.
On Monday June 9 2014, he turned up at Ms Finlay’s work and requested an appointment with her for June 13.
When Harper arrived, he was told someone else would see him. Harper left, saying he would “try again”, and at this point police were contacted.
Harper admitted that, between June 24 2013, and June 13 2014, at Royal Bank of Scotland, High Street, and elsewhere, he engaged in a course of conduct which caused Samantha Finlay fear and alarm, in that he repeatedly texted and emailed her, and attended at her place of work, while on bail.
Sentence was deferred to August 6. Sheriff Brown also imposed a non-harassment order prohibiting him from approaching or contacting, or attempting to approach or contact, Ms Finlay indefinitely.
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