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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Stalker - what are my options?

53 replies

4two4 · 21/10/2016 12:01

I lived in a shared house in my early twenties with a window facing out on to an office building. We started getting notes through the door addressed to me and I also started to get emails online and on facebook from a man who said he worked in the building opposite and that he was watching me. It escalated over a few days to the point where I would leave the house and he would send me an email commenting on what I was wearing and where I was going, so he was obviously following me. He did various other things including starting a facebook group which featured updates on what I was doing which he invited my facebook friends to join and posted pictures of me on (then deleted.)

I called the police, who went to his house and basically told him to stop. He accepted a caution.

A few months ago (now ten years later - I'm in my early thirties, married with children and moved hundreds of miles from where I originally was) I've received a series of messages from a false profile telling me that it's him and basically blaming me for causing his interest ten years ago because I was a "tease" and performing strip and masturbation shows in front of the window specifically for him and for bringing men home and having sex with them to "make him jealous." Obviously this is bollocks.

He seems to be under the impression that I have been trying to get his attention / that he and I are some sort of long lost lovers / meant to be / and all I actually need is a discrete way for us to be in contact. I.e. we just need to hide our attraction/affair better. He said he has set up a way for us to be in contact away from the prying eyes of police / my DH.

I'm not sure whether to contact the police again - this would be a new branch with no record of what previously happened, or to reply to his messages and directly dispel all his delusions. Ie "I am not interested in you, you are frightening me. Nothing you say happened ever happened and if you contact me again I will be calling the police (again.)"

What should I be doing?

OP posts:
ImperialBlether · 21/10/2016 16:10

I don't understand how he was sending you emails years ago - how would he have even known your name, never mind your email address?

louisatwo · 21/10/2016 16:28

Not wishing to panic you Op but please also review your and your family's safety. If he's made contact he may have your address so it would be sensible to make sure your house is safe and secure? Outside lighting? Locks on doors and windows? Checking that there are no strangers lurking around / in cars outside?
I know this is worrying but given his sinister messages, it is worth reviewing all this if only to reassure yourselves that everything is in order.
Have you told your OH?
A horrible situation - hopefully the police will take this very seriously. Flowers

4two4 · 21/10/2016 16:32

I have no idea how he originally found out who I was. My only thought is that ten years ago, facebook was mainly a university only network, so profiles were a lot more open. If you went to the same university as someone else, or had a friend who did, you could automatically see the profile of someone else at your university. And on that profile were things like university email addresses because they were essential to sign up to Facebook. And my university alumni address used to forward to my account.

OP posts:
4two4 · 21/10/2016 16:37

I have told DH who is just laughing about it.

OP posts:
NerrSnerr · 21/10/2016 16:46

I would screenshot, report to the police and deactivate FB until it blows over. Are you on the electoral role?

NerrSnerr · 21/10/2016 16:46

I mean the searchable electoral role...

ColdFeetAndHotCakes · 21/10/2016 16:54

Your DH could take this a little bit more seriously, being stalked isn't really a laughing matter.

Please go to the police asap. They need time to dig up old records/transfer from other stations if they're not easily accessible, and everything you get documented helps protect you and build a case against him.

Contrary to PPs, I wouldn't advise you delete fb etc. Make a copy of all the messages you're sent, show your husband and the police everything so they know how at risk you are, but do not respond and encourage him in any way. If you delete fb it makes it more of a challenge to contact you and he may see that as you engaging him. Don't make him find more covert ways to get in contact you, if he already has access to your fb profile he could easily already mobile numbers, home address, workplaces etc. Remove any identifying details from fb and avoid the "off to thorpe park today with the kids" status, you can always post a photo saying how much you enjoyed it when you're home!

Joysmum · 21/10/2016 17:00

Report it and set your DH straight that he should not be laughing at your distress Angry

AnyFucker · 21/10/2016 17:32

Your H is laughing ?

He's a dick

Bunkai · 21/10/2016 17:46

I suspect that any contact from you would be viewed by him as proof of your adoration regardless of what you say.

Agree with the other posters about calling the police and taking extra precautions. Kerp safe.

Bunkai · 21/10/2016 17:46

*keep

memyselfandaye · 21/10/2016 17:47

The police must have a record of what happened years ago.

Your husband would'nt be laughing if the stalker bloke goes after him, and it sounds entirely possible he could appear with a knife or a gun. He is clearly very unstable.

There was a case a few years ago where a young woman who worked on a beauty counter in a department store was murdered at work by her stalker.

Take it seriously, go to the police.

Are you on the electoral register under your maiden name?

IreallyKNOWiamright · 21/10/2016 18:23

Don't reply. Don't put anything on facebook for a few days and just watch anymore messages he sends
But DO go to the police. You now have a family and it's about their safety now including yours. X

TheHubblesWindscreenWipers · 21/10/2016 18:51

You need to point out to your husband that it's no laughing matter. Not only is he a danger to you he's a danger to your dh as well, who he likely sees as a rival.
I'm sure you've read of cases where women have been killed by men like this - take your dh with you if you can when you go to the police - they can reiterate how utterly not a laughing matter this is.

CoraPirbright · 21/10/2016 18:52

I agree with pp's saying don't delete FB. It might encourage him as he may see it as a reaction to him from you and it would also be useful to collect his messages to you as evidence to forward to the police.

Def call the police asap - i am sure they will be able to contact your previous police force or look up the caution. And tell your DH to fucking stop laughing - this is simply not funny.

Amandahugandkisses · 21/10/2016 19:28

This is seriously not funny.

As someone said he is a deluded stalker who believes there is some kind of relationship. All stalkers are dangerous but it's not like an ex BF situation. He has completely made this up in his head and has kept it going for 10 years! He is obsessed.

AnnieAutumnMouse · 21/10/2016 19:51

www.scaredofsomeone.org/
This will confirm what everyone else has been saying.
Do not interact at all with this person - and rip your DH a new one for being such an unsupportive idiot.

Doublemint · 21/10/2016 20:02

You need to go to the police, let school or nursery know and ask them to document ANY people hanging around etc, DH needs to get his head out of his ass, upgrade your home security and don't change anything on social media.
Any form of perceived rejection could push this very ill individual to become aggressive towards you or your DH. Over the last decade he could have obsessed over you from afar and built up God knows how many fantasys and constructs. If your paths have crossed randomly he will think it is fate or a sign you are destined for each other. He may/probably believes you are in a relationship and giving him signals to pursue you. Don't reject him but don't encourage him.
Get furth advice from the police. Do you know what he looks like? If you don't then don't let tradesmen in if you are alone, take practical precautions when out alone and get in touch with specialist support organisations.
You must be so scared but you will get through this.

BitOutOfPractice · 22/10/2016 03:36

Bloody hell op I hope you've been to the police now. And tell your DH to stop fucking laughing and start taking this seriously

WelshMoth · 22/10/2016 07:25

You're husband is laughing?
What a nob.

GiveMeRitz · 22/10/2016 07:27

Do not contact him!!!

If he is in full erotomania, he will twist any contact.

Police, some have officers that specialise in stalking.

Good Luck

WelshMoth · 22/10/2016 07:48

Police. Today.
Hopefully some decent male officers will show some more concern and look upon this situation more gravely. It shouldn't be like this - but your H is an ignorant man.

Then show him this thread.

dworky · 22/10/2016 09:19

paladinservice.co.uk/

orangeterry · 22/10/2016 09:40

As someone who is due to be in court due to being stalked my best advice is not to contact the stalker at all .
He will thrive off the contact and you risk making things ten times worse
Log everything with police and don't let them fob you off with harassment.
This is section 4 stalking and is very serious

HughLauriesStubble · 22/10/2016 10:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.