I want your opinions on a situation my friend is in. She lives on her own in gated flats in London and about 4 years ago she spotted a neighbour having some work done on their property by a trades person and asked if they could do some work on hers. It ended up being quite extensive, garden, kitchen, bathroom and she travels a lot so she gave him keys to work while she was away. They spent a fair bit of time picking tiles, flooring, paints etc, he drove her to the local b&q and so on. He had a girlfriend and she also helped with painting etc, so she felt quite secure in the situation.
One day, she accidentally sent him a selfie of herself, just her face nothing else and then suddenly his messages turned from work to romantic messages about how he was in love with her. She swiftly replied and said that it was an accident and not meant for him, that she was upset that felt he had crossed a line and to not contact her again. He persisted with more messages and she continued to shut him down. I think she blocked him at that point.
Unfortunately he remained quite busy with work at the same block and kept she felt uncomfortable whilst he worked at other neighbours properties. She tried to tell one of her neighbours what had happened as she felt uncomfortable and he insinuated that it was her fault for getting involved with him and wants to keep out of it.
Then on her birthday a parcel was left on her doorstep with vodka and chocolates and the worst part, an engraved picture of her in glass, a type of ornament with her picture (the selfie) and the date she sent it to him engraved on it.
By this point she freaked out of course. She continued to bump into him every now and again and he would cross the street and try to speak to her or follow her for a bit and disappear. It happened again today and she screamed at him to leave her alone. Fortunately, it was busy and he scarpered.
She is quite shaken by it all.
Sorry if I'm being naive, but is this classed as stalking? Most of the time he's working on neighbours properties or happens to see her in the street (we're not sure if that's intentional and she's being followed or just because he lives locally).
She just wants him to clear off as he gives her the creeps.
What would you do? What can she do?
I said maybe it's time to go to the police and she should speak to the other neighbours he works for and explain what has happened.