I think the close proximity of this man to the OP makes it dangerous to be firm and categorical that she doesn’t want to see him again as they aren’t compatible. He creates a persona because he’s inadequate and making him feel more inadequate would potentially be dangerous as they fact he needs to create the story suggests he is ashamed of who he actually is.
In an ideal world, we should all be able to say exactly what we feel. But the OP lives in a small village, and he knows where she lives.
All the security, locks, phone calls to police, blocking and injunctions will not make her feel safe. Reporting him to the police does not make her safe, or feel safe.
Being dead, but having done the correct thing by standing up to him and reporting any subsequent contact, doesn’t make the ops family feel better - or her any less dead.
Yes, I’m being dramatic, but what I’m trying to say is that you’d rather be the woman that he passes by because he knows it’s not worth bothering because he won’t get the attention or admiration from you - but crucially believes you still see him as the ‘war hero’ or whatever persona he is trying to convey.
I’ll put up with once a year text, and me replying ‘so glad things are going well, hope you enjoy the round the world cruise’ or whatever shit he try’s to bait me with, than run the risk of his wrath - which I initially witnessed when I did try to call him out then very quickly changed tactic to take the heat out of it.
This type of man sees it as a challenge if the bullshit is called out. My loser has no interest in me because I don’t make myself interesting by either starting an argument or making myself look like I’m challenging a word he’s saying.