Ollerton man, 68, found guilty at Nottingham Magistrates' Court of stalking ex-partner

A 68-year-old man was found guilty of stalking his ex-partner, despite claiming to have avoided her at all costs.

Alan Turnbull was accused of harassing the woman, who ended their relationship seven years ago, on three separate occasions.

Appearing at Nottingham Magistrates' Court for trial, parties were told Turnbull last breached a restraining order against her in July 2016.

On the evening of May 28 last year, the victim saw Turnbull slowly driving past her house while she was putting away laundry.

She said he was idling and starring at her property, despite the lights not being on.

Turnbull, of De-Lacy Court, Ollerton, told the court he was visiting someone who lives on the same road to inquire about buying a van.

When he got to the house, he claimed he saw no lights on and assumed the person he wanted to see was in bed before driving home. This contradicted his police interview where he said he was at the Harrow Inn Free House in Boughton.

On May 30, the victim was chatting to her neighbour outside her home when she saw Turnbull drive by again.

The victim's neighbour gave evidence in court and said she saw a medium to large saloon-style car driving past and added when the victim saw it, she said 'there he is again'.

Turnbull said he could not recall being in the area at the time but that if it was him in the car, he was probably going to his son's house.

On June 3, the victim was at the Olde Red Lion Pub in Ollerton with a friend when she spotted Turnbull sitting at a bench some distance away.

Turnbull is a regular at that pub and claimed he had no idea the victim and her friend were there.

The friend, who also gave evidence in court, said the victim and Turnbull chatted for a while after but that she noticed a change in her demeanour.

During the walk home, the victim said that she saw Turnbull driving past her and her friend in his car. She said she saw him again moments later driving in the opposite direction, but this was later dismissed in court due to a lack of evidence.

The prosecution said: "You realised that they'd gone and decided to get in your car and deliberately drive backwards and forwards so that you'd be able to see her, she'd be able to see you and to harass her."

ANPR footage confirmed Turnbull's car was in the area at the time, but he claimed he didn't recognise the victim. He denied all claims of harassment and said he had taken great care to avoid her since the end of their relationship.

"I live in the same village as her so somewhere along the line, I'm going to bump into her whether I like it or not," the defendant said in court.

"Everywhere I went I was looking over my shoulder to see if she was there. I've got no reason to upset her. She's not a part of my life anymore."

The district judge concluded: "I'm satisfied that there was a course of conduct for three incidents, that the acts amounted to stalking, and that he knew that that course of conduct would have the effect of harassment upon the complainant. In the circumstances, I find the case proved."

Turnbull is set to be sentenced on April 22.