A Perth woman was forced to move home, alter her work routine and change her name by deed poll after a prolonged period of harassment from a mentally ill stalker.
The 25-year-old pharmacy worker has been left “scared to leave her home” and has been prescribed medication for depression, anxiety and panic attacks after a two-year period in which James Raymond Rioux, 58, a prisoner at Perth, stuck notes on her door and was spotted outside her work.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard he had five previous convictions, including two jail sentences, for offences connected with the complainer.
Depute fiscal Eilidh Robertson told the court the complainer knew the accused as she worked at the pharmacy he attended on a regular basis.
The woman had changed her name by deed poll but six months after he was released from prison, Rioux telephoned her work. A colleague recognised his voice and told him that no one of that name worked there.
The following day, another person called the pharmacy claiming to be from Blockbuster Video and this time got through to the complainer. She gave her new details to the caller but was then suspicious and called Blockbuster, who confirmed they had not made the call.
On various occasions after that, an unknown male was seen to pin a note on her door, while other notes were found at the common close.
Scientists analysed the handwriting and said it was “highly probable” it was the accused’s.
The terrified woman told police she was scared to leave her home.
Miss Robertson added: “Due to the accused’s conduct, the complainer has moved home, changed her work routine and has been prescribed medication for depression, anxiety and panic attacks.”
Rioux admitted that between November 2012 and November 2014, at various locations, he phoned her at work, repeatedly attended at her address and left her notes, messages and letters written on cardboard and on a wall with chalk, or caused another to do so on his behalf, and broke bail conditions not to approach or contact her.
Solicitor John McLaughlan, defending, told the court Rioux had suffered from significant psychiatric complaints since being a teenager, was bipolar and suffered from paranoia and insomnia.
Sheriff Alastair Carmichael told Rioux the only appropriate sentence was custody and jailed him for a total of 18 months.
He also imposed a non-harassment order on him, preventing him from contacting the woman in any way, or entering her street, for six years.