Stalker left 136 text messages and made 27 calls in 14 days

A Brisbane man has been convicted of unlawfully stalking a former girlfriend over an 18-month period in which he left gifts on her porch, told her new partner she was pregnant and, in one 14-day period, sent 136 text messages and called her 27 times.

John Leslie Dillon of Brighton pleaded guilty to unlawfully stalking a former girlfriend.

A 36-year-old Brisbane man found it hard to let go when his girlfriend told him she just wanted to be friends.

He mowed his former partner’s lawn while she was away, left gifts on her front porch, posted photos of the two of them on Facebook, told her new partner she was pregnant and, in one 14-day period, sent her 136 text messages and called her 27 times.

The incidents, which occurred in Bracken Ridge between April 14, 2018 and September 21, 2019, resulted in John Leslie Dillon being charged with unlawful stalking.

Sandgate Courthouse. Picture: Michelle Smith

Dillon, now 37, unemployed, of Brighton, pleaded guilty via phone this week in Sandgate Magistrates Court.

The police prosecutor said the victim started a relationship with Dillon after a previous relationship ended in April 2018.

“She had a relationship with the defendant over a few weeks and then told him she didn’t want to pursue a relationship with him and just wanted to be friends,” the prosecutor said.

“He agreed to be friends but did tell her he loved her.

“Around Christmas the victim reconnected with her ex and spent a week with him in New South Wales.

“During that time the defendant posted a photo of himself and the victim on Facebook with the caption ‘I’m so happy with (the victim)’.

“He also posted a photo of himself with the victim in the background and she doesn’t know when he took that photo. He then sent photos to the victim’s partner through Messenger, saying she was pregnant.

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“When they returned home she saw both her front and back lawns had been mowed. The defendant showed up about 15 minutes later with beers and tried to apologise.

“He was told to leave. He did, but returned later that day. She refused to answer his calls or let him in the house.

“After that he started leaving gifts such as flowers, food and cigarettes on the front porch.”

The prosecutor said the victim’s new partner moved into her house in April 2019.

“The defendant kept calling and texting the victim and contacted her partner through Facebook Messenger.

“He followed the victim when she took her kids to school. One time he pulled up beside her and held up a hand written note saying ‘I love you’ before driving off.

“Between August 31 and September 13, 2019 he sent 136 text messages and tried to call her 27 times, but she blocked him.

“He also drove past her house multiple times a day.”

The prosecutor said no further incidents had occurred since police became involved in September 2019.

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Dillon’s solicitor said her client “has completely moved away from this behaviour and has started a new relationship”.

“He has the support of her and her mother and is doing all he can to build the relationship. He just wants to move on with his life.

“They (Dillon and the victim) were originally dating and the relationship deteriorated. His intentions were originally pure. There were no threats of violence.

“Since police have become involved he’s had no contact with the victim and he has moved on.

“It was a relationship that unfortunately turned sour and he isn’t a person who would usually behave in this matter.”

Magistrate Jennifer Batts said, “This offending is very concerning”.

“Offending of this kind is inherently inclined to accelerate,” she said.

“There has thankfully been no offending whilst you have been on bail. But the course of offending was over a very lengthy period so it was very persistent, clearly unwanted and it should have stopped a long time prior and without the necessity of you being here (in court).”

Magistrate Batts convicted Dillon and sentenced him to six months’ jail, wholly suspended for two years.

No restraining order was sought.