Plagued with thoughts of something that probably won't ever happen... (Work related)

[H328]

Just wondered if anyone had any advice about this as it's driving me a bit mad.

Basically as part of my job I've had a complaint made against me. The complaining person is a nightmare - a disgruntled party in a commercial property dispute that has dragged on for years. I acted for the other side for a period of a few years, this was about 5 years ago. I then changed role and someone else took over the case.

I was quite a junior member of a team and basically got all the crap jobs at the time but my name is all over the paperwork associated with the contracts etc. The complaints are all about me covering things up, deleting files, lying etc and don't have any basis so I'm not concerned about that.

What I'm worried about is that the complaining person is basically a local thug, a member of a large notorious crime family, is a complete nutcase, and has a complete vendetta against me personally. He knows my name, where I work etc and seems to blame me for him going bankrupt, losing his family and all manner of other things.

I know professionals have complaints against them all the time but I'm feeling really rattled about this. I'm finding myself lying awake at night wondering if he could track me down to my house (probably in about 30 seconds) and hurt one of the children (they are toddlers). I can't shake off the thoughts and they're getting worse - I don't want to let the kids out of my sight.

I don't know what to do - I know I'm being a bit mad but it's really getting to me.

Anyone?

Can’t help but bumping for you OP

Hi - did not want to read and run. Unfortunately, i do not have any advise. Would making a report to the police help?
Have they threatened you, have you seen him loitering around your place, if no, then may be you are worried unnecessarily. x

Thank you both. He hasn't threatened me and I haven't seen him, although he has tried to get into our office wanting to see me I'm WFH at the moment.

I think I am worrying unnecessarily but I don't know how to stop. Over-active imagination...

@H328

Thank you both. He hasn't threatened me and I haven't seen him, although he has tried to get into our office wanting to see me I'm WFH at the moment.

I think I am worrying unnecessarily but I don't know how to stop. Over-active imagination...

Just take one day at a time and do not stress too much (easier said than done) - may be talk to work and they can make it clear to him, you are an employee of the organisation - nothing personal in what you do. Anyone else would have done the same thing. Good luck

Sorry this is giving you anxiety. Do everything that you can to protect yourself and your family. Each and every time he comes after you personally, tell the police. No matter how small, no matter how frequent.

However, it mightn't happen. In fact, I think its very unlikely to happen - going to a stranger's house in the middle of the night to hurt one of their children (which is what you've said you're worried about) is a really, really, really serious thing to do.
The kind of thing that makes the press. The kind of things that gets serious time in jail. The kind of thing that gets local vigilantes riled up. Even if he is a headcase, I think the chances of him going that far are pretty slim.

I think he wanted to come to your office to scream and shout at you in person. To make a scene. To throw around some threats. To show what a hard-man he is.

There's absolutely nothing to suggest that he'll start pursuing you outside of work.

Thank you. That definitely all makes sense. He's tried to interest the press and has written some mad stuff on social media but none of that bothers me - for some reason I've started to feel physically intimidated even though he hasn't really been near me. It's a bit mad.