Peter Widdowson guilty of stalking jockeys Nikita Beriman and Michelle Payne

A Victorian man has promised he won’t approach horse racing icons Michelle Payne and Nikita Beriman again after pleading guilty in a Maroochydore court to unlawful stalking.

Peter Widdowson has pleaded guilty to unlawfully stalking jockeys Nikita Beriman and Michelle Payne.

A Victorian man who delivered two champion jockeys parcels filled with toys, books and letters on the Sunshine Coast has faced a Maroochydore court.

Peter Widdowson pleaded guilty in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Thursday, October 27, to unlawfully stalking Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne and accomplished jockey and trainer Nikita Beriman.

The 54-year-old from Sebastopol represented himself and faced Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist over the phone.

Mr Stjernqvist labelled the behaviour “unusual” and fined Widdowson $2000.

The court was told Ms Payne and Ms Beriman travel between the Sunshine Coast and Victoria and work as trainers.

Peter Widdowson has pleaded guilty to unlawfully stalking Michelle Payne. Picture: Brett Holburt/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Police prosecutor Sergeant Nick Nitschke said Ms Beriman received the two packages, addressed to her and Ms Payne, at the Honey Farm Rd stables in Meridan Plains on June 14.

The court was told the trainers later opened the parcels and found toys, books and letters.

Nikita Beriman, pictured in 2019, works between Victoria and the Sunshine Coast as a trainer. Picture: Quentin Lang / AAP

“In the letters the defendant outlined he was currently staying at a unit in Caloundra after travelling up from Victoria to deliver the package,” Sergeant Nitschke said.

“He further stated they should hang out together, go to the beach and get tea.”

Sergeant Nitschke said the pair became fearful for their safety.

“It caused the victims to be anxious and unable to sleep,” he said.

The police prosecutor said the lack of sleep affected their ability to do their jobs, they bought security cameras for their dwellings and they also started driving on different routes to the stables to ensure they were not followed.

The sergeant said Widdowson told police he had seen the pair on television “a few years ago” and had sent them a number of packages.

The court was told police searched the unit where they found Widdowson.

Sergeant Nitschke said police found another package addressed to Payne filled with mouthwash, condoms and letters asking if Ms Payne and Ms Beriman wanted to have a relationship with Widdowson.

In a lengthy exchange with Mr Stjernqvist over the phone, Widdowson promised he would not approach the women and asked that the packages he sent were destroyed.

The pensioner and former painter said he had savings to pay a fine.

Mr Stjernqvist said the stalking charges were serious.

“This is fairly unusual,” the magistrate said.

He fined Widdowson $1000 for each of the stalking offences and a conviction was not recorded.

The magistrate told Widdowson a restraining order was in place.