Shane Lindsay West pleads guilty to stalking young woman

A stalker has been labelled ‘outright predatory’ after he became infatuated with a girl almost 30 years younger than him – she was terrified every time she saw him.

A “creepy” Mackay stalker who was infatuated with a girl almost 30 years younger than him will spend four months in jail over his relentless conduct that had her terrified.

He sent her multiple messages and left comments on her social media accounts despite being told to stop.

The 50 year old went to her work and tried to force his way through the staff door when he was told she was not there.

He also followed her home, using his vehicle to block her car in place.

On another occasion, Shane Lindsay West circled her car tapping on the windows before trying to get inside her car forcing the 21 year old to flee.

“Can you call me, please,” Mackay Magistrates Court heard he messaged her.

“Pain in my ass … love you little sh-t.

“Don’t make me look for you. I’m not giving up.”

West also wrote to her: “You tried to run and hide. Ha ha I tried to disguise myself.”

The court heard she was so fearful every time she saw him, she had panic attacks.

Shane Lindsay West initially entered not guilty pleas to stalking, common assault and unlawful entry before flipping the day the matter was listed for hearing. He was placed on a prison/probation order.

Magistrate Damien Dwyer labelled the conduct as “creepy”, but prosecutor Harry Coburn said it went “beyond creepy to outright predatory”.

The court heard the young woman and her father had previously lived with West for a time until 2017.

West’s defence solicitor Peter Clark, of Strutynksi Law, said there had been an issue with rent and the girl and her father had to move out creating some “bad blood” between the men.

But Mr Clark told the court his client had been distraught because he had viewed himself in a “de facto uncle role” to the girl.

The court heard he came across her “by accident” four years later, but there had been some intermittent contact.

“This is infatuation … infatuation which had no basis and continued for a long period of time,” Mr Dwyer said.

The offending occurred between July 2021 and February 2022 in Mackay.

The court heard West had been standing behind the girl in a shop one morning and she had “become immediately fearful”, paid for her items and left.

West followed her out the store yelling out and running after her – she locked herself in her car for safety.

“(He’s) approached her vehicle and began tapping on the windows while yelling at her,” Mr Coburn said.

The court heard she feared for her safety. Mr Coburn said he also got in her car without her consent after she tried to lock her doors and tried to grab her arm.

She fled the car.

West sent numerous messages, commented on her social media accounts, went to her work and even followed her home. Picture: generic

On another occasion she had been stopped at traffic lights at Mount Pleasant when West pulled up next to her – she drove home and he followed her, parking behind her.

“(West) has gotten out of the vehicle and walked around the victim’s car … tapping on the window begging the victim to get out of her car,” Mr Coburn said.

The court heard he got on his hands and knees next to the car asking her to get out before he left.

This happened while he was on bail for stalking. Mr Clark said his client was surprised he had caused the woman fear and that there was “an absence of malice” in his actions.

“But it did,” Mr Dwyer said.

West had initially entered not guilty pleas to stalking, common assault and unlawful entry before flipping the day the matter was listed for hearing.

Mr Dwyer said West had been persistent and “a pest”, would not take no for an answer and “made her life hell”.

Mr Dwyer said a strong deterrent was needed for West that this type of conduct would not be tolerated.

“But also I think there’s just as big an onus on the community to try and get him some assistance,” Mr Dwyer said. The court heard West had one entry on his history.

“I think we need to get you on a leash,” Mr Dwyer said, sentencing the man to a prison/probation order. West has already been in jail on remand for about two months and will be released on June 6 on a 15-month probation order.

Convictions were recorded and a restraining order is now in place.