Dianne Jolley: ’Creepy’ letters tended to the court
A bizarre letter a professor admitted to sending herself to pretend she was being stalked — as well as others she denies writing — have been revealed in court.
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A bizarre letter a professor admits to sending herself to pretend she was being stalked, as well as others she denies writing, have been revealed in court.
Dianne Jolley is on trial in the NSW District Court after the former dean of science at the University of Technology pleaded not guilty to sending herself 10 threatening letters.
She has also pleaded not guilty to deceptively causing the university to pay $127,000 for a security escort and installing CCTV to protect her.
The 51-year-old claims she received ongoing criticism from colleagues and students as the face of the closure of a Chinese medicine course.
Jolley admitted to writing herself one letter to be fired for misconduct, telling the court she could not handle the barrage of “disturbing, stalkerish” threats levelled at her.
The letter Jolley penned to herself in November 2019 said: “Dianne, We have removed a dean before we can do it again. You don’t belong here. You are not wanted here. Either you leave, or we will do it.”
Jolley admits she “cracked under pressure” in texts she sent days after her arrest to UTS HR representative Jennifer Lacoon.
“I know I have cracked under pressure. After a lot of reflection I think I can pinpoint exactly when,” Jolley wrote.
“As a result I did a couple of things to piggyback on events to keep a sense of additional arms protecting me, things I’m not proud of. I promise I didn’t start all this, didn’t endanger the safety of anyone.”
Other letters sent to Dianne Jolley described as “creepy” by the defence include her face with a red cross through it and a greetings card which says: “Goodbye, Seeya, Goodluck”.
A letter the Crown alleges Jolley sent to herself on August 24, 2019, said: “You are f***ed racist bitch. China hating lesbian. I watch you. I see what you do. You are not safe and you know.”
The Crown submits Jolley’s new job as dean of science became too much for her and she “wanted out”.
In coming days, the jury will retire to deliberate a verdict after closing statements were given by the Crown and Defence on Wednesday.
District Court Judge Ian Bourke SC is expected to finish summing up the case for the jury by Friday afternoon.
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