Former councillor in court after allegedly breaching intervention order, aggravated stalking

A court has heard the alleged victim of a former councillor accused of aggravated stalking “feels safer” knowing her alleged offender is in custody – but now he’s pleaded with a magistrate for “one final chance” to return to the community on bail.

An ex-councillor will remain behind bars on remand for at least another week after being ordered a home detention assessment report following a desperate “final chance” plea in court – despite his alleged victim having concerns for her own safety.

The man appeared in the Christies Beach Magistrates Court on Tuesday via video link charged with aggravated stalking, five counts of contravening an intervention order and five counts of breaching bail. He is yet to enter any pleas.

The man, a former councillor, cannot be named to avoid identifying the subject of the intervention order.

Defence counsel for the accused told Magistrate Kylie Schulz there were serious concerns for the mental health of his client, and highlighted the “enormous upheaval” his family – some of which were present in court – had endured as a result of the alleged offending.

“In relation to this offending, we submit (the accused) should be given one final chance,” they said.

“The facts are well known now to (my client) – there is serious urgency in him being able to get back out into the community and begin managing his only financial asset.

“(My client) is a father. The enormous upheaval that the family has gone through over the past month has necessitated this urgent application for bail. The fact he is a father speaks to (my client’s) character and we ask Your Honour to take that into account when determining his bail.”

At his last appearance in September, the prosecution alleged he had “repeatedly” breached an existing intervention order by following the woman, leaving notes for her and attending within 100m of her home address.

They further alleged there were pending breaches after he allegedly repeatedly contacted the woman, left messages on her car windscreen and followed her to a town 160km outside Adelaide.

A police prosecutor suggested there was “some kind of tracking” involved.

On Tuesday, the prosecution told the court the defendant’s actions had caused his alleged victim to “fear leaving her address”, and submitted she “felt safer” knowing the accused was in custody.

They further alleged the woman had found a letter in her letterbox written by the accused saying: “I miss you and I want to take you somewhere” and “I want to talk to you for hours”.

The man will return to court next week.

Originally published as Former councillor in court after allegedly breaching intervention order, aggravated stalking