A Dungannon man has been sentenced to three months imprisonment, suspended for three years, in what is believed to be Northern Ireland's first court case involving stalking.
Robert Boyd (46), a father of seven and unemployed, pleaded guilty at Cookstown Magistrate's Court to assaulting his cousin, Ms Dale Spence (25). Boyd had pestered the woman over a two year period until Christmas Day 1995. A DPP lawyer said he sent her letters and romantic music tapes and followed her while she was driving.
"It seems he was actually fond of her but she obviously found this pestering caused her a considerable amount of distress," he said.