Scott Andrew Greenhalgh: former Woolies worker stalks and harasses Queensland cop

A former Woolies worker who sent multiple messages to a Queensland cop, visited her daughter’s workplace and tracked her with a device has been sentenced in court. Read what happened here.

Scott Andrew Greenhalgh, 53, pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court on July 15 to one court of unlawful stalking, intimidation, harassing or abuse. Picture: Facebook

A former Woolworths worker has been sentenced for stalking and harassing a Queensland police officer for five months, including tracking her with a device and visiting her daughter’s workplace.

Scott Andrew Greenhalgh, 53, pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court on July 15 to one count of unlawful stalking, intimidation, harassing or abuse.

The court heard Greenhalgh started sending Facebook messages out of the blue to the woman on October 19, 2024.

He was not Facebook friends with the woman but knew her in the 1990s when they were younger.

He continued to message and send videos to the woman, who is a member of the Queensland Police Service, despite receiving no response from her.

The court heard Greenhalgh “bumped into” the woman’s adult daughter in Ormeau in March 2025.

He approached the daughter and asked if she was related to the woman and a conversation ensued.

The woman reached out to tell him to stop contact on March 11 but he went on to visit the daughter’s place of work twice.

In response to the woman, he messaged her: “What did I do to make you have this reaction?”

The court heard Greenhalgh sent message to the woman despite receiving no response from her. Picture: Facebook

The court heard on March 12, the woman was leaving work when she saw a vehicle outside her workplace and feeling uneasy, noted the registration. She later found out the car was registered to Greenhalgh.

Greenhalgh sent the woman a video message on March 13 and said he didn’t know she was a police officer.

“I’m shit scared now,” he said. “I’m so sorry … All I wanted to do in the first place was just communicate and have a chat. Obviously things got the better of me.”

He told the woman to pursue the matter however she wanted and “lay it on” him.

He also mentioned self-harm in another video, prompting the officer to report the matter to police, who took up with Greenhalgh quickly.

Police seized Greenhalgh’s phone and found emails of him purchasing a GPS tracking device and screenshots of the device at the woman’s home and her brother’s address.

A search warrant was executed at Greenhalgh’s home with officers finding a GPS tracker box and another GPS tracker still inside its packaging.

Both prosecution and defence agreed data on Greenhalgh’s phone suggested the GPS tracking device was used to track the woman.

Greenhalgh’s lawyer, Georgia D’Arcy from Legal Aid, acknowledged the seriousness of the stalking but noted her client made no violent threats or actions.

She told the court that before the offending Greenhalgh had been living with his mother and stepfather. He was working at Woolworths after being made redundant from his marine technician job in July 2024 and following his separation from his wife of 24 years.

Greenhalgh’s lawyer said certain events had a profound effect on his mental health prior to the stalking. Picture: Facebook

Ms D’Arcy said the events had a profound effect on Greenhalgh’s mental health.

She said Greenhalgh told her he was not thinking clearly and was feeling lonely, leading him to reach out to people from his past via Facebook, including the woman.

She said his intention was to reconnect with people but he said he failed to exercise self control and has expressed remorse.

Ms D’Arcy said Greenhalgh had originally purchased the tracking device for a caravan and had no explanation for his actions other than he wasn’t thinking straight.

She told the court Greenhalgh has ceased contact with the woman, has taken steps towards rehabilitation and noted there were a number of people in the courtroom to support him, including his ex-wife.

Magistrate Dominic Brunello noted Greenhalgh was told to stop by the victim in March but he continued to offend after that for a short period.

He said the monitoring of the woman’s whereabouts was a profound invasion of her privacy.

Mr Brunello also said the videos sent to the woman showed his regret but there was an element of emotional manipulation in them.

He noted Greenhalgh’s good character, lack of criminal history, good employment record and genuine efforts at rehabilitation.

Greenhalgh was sentenced to a probation order of two years.

No conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Scott Andrew Greenhalgh: former Woolies worker stalks and harasses Queensland cop