Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

1 2

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Property/DIY

Previous home owner is being stalkerish

31 replies

Bluebird79 · 04/03/2016 23:16

I don't post very often, but am sitting here mulling over today's events and need some advice.

We moved into our new home about 6 months ago. We knew that the family living here before had a turbulent break up and was the reason for selling up. Half way through the purchase we discovered the husband was in prison for a rather heavy crime. I don't know why, but it gave me a bad feeling. However we loved the house and carried on as it was obviously nothing to do with us.

Fast forward to now. In the last week I have had the police call looking for this guy (he has been released early). They didn't tell me why they thought he would be here. I now know he lives in a house that virtually looks onto our front garden. It isn't close enough to see him up close, but it is close enough for him to see us come and go. Then today he called at my house and told me he wanted to buy the house back, and in time, it would be his again. He told me he watched me doing the garden "his garden" and offered to give me a hand! He came off very unhinged, rambling and obviously in a bad place. He seems to think we got the house for a song (we didn't). I didn't really know what to say - he scared me and I froze like a moron. To be honest, I felt he was creepy.

I told my DH and he said that we should call the police if I felt harassed, but I don't want to inflame the situation. But maybe we should tell them...what should I do? We are thinking maybe he just wanted to get this off his chest - he obviously feels bitter about the past. Has anyone experienced anything similar to this?

OP posts:

Report

KimmySchmidtsSmile · 04/03/2016 23:19

Not had anything similar but clearly you need to let police know.
Log all/any communications.
This is not normal behaviour.

Bluebird79 · 04/03/2016 23:22

Thanks Kimmy - the more I think about it, the more I think I should tell the police. He wasn't normal.

OP posts:

Katarzyna79 · 04/03/2016 23:27

OP you're right go with your gut instinct let the police know.

my sis was in the process of selling her house, then she had to change plans because the family member they were meant to move in with for a few months before they got into their new home decided they didn't want them there. later found out it was because her cousins wife was jealous theyd be using her new appliances etc, even though they said theyd pay rent too. she was just against it and decided when the removal van had been packed to move in.

anyway when they pulled out from the sale the prospective buyers became aggressive. threatened sister on phone, said she should pay for solicitor fees incurred. she said sorry and she had lost money also but family circumstances forced this issue. they even came to her house the mother father and the heavies their teen sons. she called police they never contacted her again. but she was too scared to go to work without a chaperone for a few months....

Bluebird79 · 04/03/2016 23:38

Kat - what a terrible time for your sister! Thank you for your post x it makes me feel less stupid about my reaction. I felt really threatened, even though he was just speaking to me, it was like he was making sure we know he is around. Going to call police tomorrow.

OP posts:

SnuffleGruntSnorter · 04/03/2016 23:44

I'd let the police know if you feel threatened. Was it a violent crime? Im sorry your lovely new home feels a bit tarnished by this.

have you checked under the floorboards

SnuffleGruntSnorter · 04/03/2016 23:45

Also, I don't mean to be funny but a burglar alarm might give you peace of mind when you're out!

Ruhrpott · 04/03/2016 23:48

And make sure you have changed all the locks

Fabellini · 04/03/2016 23:50

Did you change the locks after you bought the house? If not, I'd do it as soon as you can.

Bluebird79 · 05/03/2016 07:59

Thanks everyone - did change locks straight away, however going out today to get extra security lights, etc. I am angry that this person is spoiling this for us.

The crime he committed was organised and exploitative. He is a nasty piece of work, that's for sure.

OP posts:

RomComPhooey · 05/03/2016 08:04

All the more reason to get this ligged with the Police. There's a possibility this behaviour will put him in breach of his licence if he keeps it up - perhaps someone more knowledgeable about probation rules will be able to answer this.

RomComPhooey · 05/03/2016 08:04

Logged..

NancyDroop · 05/03/2016 08:07

So a nasty piece of work now has a percieved grievance against you - that you somehow 'stole' his house.

OP, I think you need to react to this much more actively than you feel is normal because you are not dealing with a normal undividual.

Go get some good extra security: alarm, camera? lights.

Ket the police know. That they called you first is setting off alarm bells, the police are clearly worried for your safety.

OP

NancyDroop · 05/03/2016 08:08

Sorry for the typos, toddler took my glasses!

Hennifer · 05/03/2016 08:21

I agree you were right to be concerned, and frightened. It's not his garden and he will not own the house again one day, not unless you decide to sell it to him, which I imagine you won't, because he sounds pretty unbalanced.

I would let the police know exactly what he did and what he said, word for word, and tell them it felt like a threat, and that he can see your house and he told you this too.

It's harassment and they can speak to him and tell him not to do it, and if he continues to do it, they can act further.

You must log every incident.

He sounds like he has lost touch with reality and that means he could potentially do anything, really. Maybe he was just sounding off, let's hope so, but meanwhile don't ignore it, and don't communicate with him.

Bluebird79 · 05/03/2016 15:45

Gosh thanks for giving me the nerve to contact the police. I didn't genuinely know if the police would think I am being hysterical about nothing! But reading the posts on here I think I know deep down I have to act.
I feel watched.
I will update in a few days.

OP posts:

Bluebird79 · 05/03/2016 15:47

Also, bought some lights today and chains for the doors. DH fitting them now!

OP posts:

Fingeronthebutton · 05/03/2016 16:13

Maybe something's hidden in the garden?

MissTurnstiles · 05/03/2016 16:30

You must contact the police. It's quite possible that his actions are in violation of his parole.

cruusshed · 05/03/2016 16:30

Is he just renting over the road? Any chance he will be moving away soon?

As other have said trust your gut. Speak with police his behaviour might well be relevant to them.

louisejxxx · 05/03/2016 16:33

Definitely something that needs to be logged with police, especially after they came to your house first!

Heatherjayne1972 · 05/03/2016 17:38

Ring 101. That's the non emergency number

OzzieFem · 05/03/2016 20:11

Hmm. Don't mean to make you any more worried than you are but I was wondering if he buried anything in the garden before he got arrested?

Perhaps you could ask the police if this was possible?

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Email address

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Bluebird79 · 05/03/2016 22:55

I rang 101 this evening - they are calling me back to make an appointment to call in and chat with me. I have absolute shivers to think he might have something stashed in the garden. I am starting to regret moving. The worst thing us we moved from such a lovely neighbourhood, took a risk I guess going somewhere new. I really like the town and felt at home straight away, but now this has happened.

OP posts:

Hennifer · 06/03/2016 07:47

I doubt he has anything hidden there. If he did, he would undoubtedly have broken in to the garden and taken it by now. He wouldn't be making random threats to 'buy the house back one day'.

That wouldn't make any sense. Even if it were hidden in the house I imagine he would try and find a way to get that back without having to wait many years...it's really unlikely IMO.

I do think that he sounds unbalanced and mentally disturbed, though, and that he's talking horseshit because of this. He's obviously the type to bear a grudge and it is a good thing you froze and didn't engage as frankly I doubt there would have been a 'right thing to say' in his view, and it could have been made worse.

Glad the coppers are coming to talk to you about it. Maybe they can reassure you. But it does sound like a load of guff to me, my only concern is that if his grasp of reality is slightly lacking, he might not think twice about banging on your door in the night, or frightening you in other ways.

Bluebird79 · 06/03/2016 08:38

Hennifer - I know what you mean. The more I have thought about it, the more I think he is having a breakdown of some kind. As he was walking away he was pointing to the trees that line the perimeter and saying they were his soldiers, which sounds nuts doesn't it? My main concern is that he will think it's fine to visit the house whenever. I am out at work 3 days out of 5, but we do have a dog and he would bark if he heard anything. Trying to keep it all hidden from my sons because they would worry terribly if they knew.

OP posts:

Flip

1 2

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.