Ingham man, Robert Jason Clough sentence for stalking woman, sending flowers and notes

A man twice a woman’s age began sending her gifts and disturbing notes after he met her while at his local vet. Details of his ‘infatuation’ revealed.

An angry Robert Jason Clough, exits the Ingham Court House building. Picture: Cameron Bates

A man already convicted of stalking young women has fronted court for sending a woman gifts and disturbing notes after he met her at a North Queensland vet.

Robert Jason Clough appeared in Townsville District Court for stalking a woman half his age, resulting in the young veterinarian to alter her shifts and suffer anxiety while being in public.

Crown prosecutor Thomasina Papadimitriou said the now 51-year-old Ingham man stalked the woman over a month between September and October in 2023.

“(Mr Clough) met her through the course of his employment where he treated her dog on July 2, 2023,” Ms Papadimitriou said.

She said the stalking consisted of three different acts.

“The first involved him having a single rose delivered to the complainant, with a note that read ‘I want you to know that what is between a man and a woman, I’ve got that for you, Jason’ and included his phone number,” Ms Papadimitriou said.

‘She will have butterflies in her tummy’ - note from Clough

Not long after that first delivery he arranged the florist to send more flowers to the woman with a handwritten note.

“It read, ‘I want to put kisses on your tummy, you would have the cutest tummy, she will have butterflies in her tummy, butterflies in her pants, butterflies in her head’”, the prosecutor said.

The woman asked the florist to stop sending arrangements to her home, so in the evening of October 19, 2023 the man left a jar at the door of the florist that was closed with a note asking for the woman to contact him and it included his address.

“As a result the complainant felt intimidated and had to change her work arrangements to ensure she wasn’t rostered on her own and was anxious in public,” Ms Papadimitriou said.

A clinical psychologist submitted a report to the court which included an analysis of the man’s personality disorder, which the prosecution said would explain why he doesn’t understand “the grief” he’s caused women.

She told the court he had been convicted four times previously for stalking young women.

Defence lawyer Ross Malcomson instructed by Townsville Lawyers said while the offending was serious it was not at the level the court often sees.

“It can be described as misguided displays of affection,” he said.

He said that Clough had arranged to see his GP where he plans to be assessed for a mental health care treatment plan and address the lack of insight he has in his actions.

Judge John Coker said while Clough had made no direct contact with the woman during the stalking period, it was clear she was “intimidated and frightened”.

The man could be seen nodding along as Judge Coker handed down his sentence.

He said the man was “infatuated” with people in the community, and it was “unacceptable”’ how he responded to those feelings.

Clough pleaded guilty to stalking.

He was sentenced to 18 months jail and given an immediate parole release date and a restraining order was made that prohibited him from approaching the woman.

Originally published as Ingham man, Robert Jason Clough sentence for stalking woman, sending flowers and notes