Barry William Hull pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful stalking

An elderly man’s “persistent” stalking of a teenage girl where she worked has seen him banned from a business and fined in court.

Barry William Hull, 82, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful stalking, intimidation or harassment when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court on Monday.

An elderly man who stalked a young girl at the business where she was working, calling her “babe” and “baby girl”, has received a hefty fine.

Barry William Hull, 82, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful stalking, intimidation or harassment when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court on Monday.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Balam Selvadurai said the teenage victim worked at a business Hull visited.

Between January 1, 2024, and October 3, 2023, he had attended her place of employment on a number of occasions.

Throughout that time, he had continuously called the victim child “babe” and “baby girl”, Sgt Selvadurai said.

“The victim has advised the defendant that this makes her uncomfortable and asked him to stop. He has continued,” he said.

On one occasion, Hull has approached the victim and touched her on her shoulder, while on other occasions he had attempted to grab her hand and the victim would tell him to stop, the court heard.

Sgt Selvadurai said on occasion the teenager had been in the carpark of the business and he would “follow her around”.

Hull’s behaviour had caused her to feel unsafe in her workplace and very uncomfortable, Sgt Selvadurai said.

The victim and her mother had made a complaint to police, the court heard.

On October 3, police had gone to Hull’s address, where he told officers he had a “silly sense of humour”, and he regularly joked around with employees at the business.

Later in the interview he said he’d asked the victim to give him “a smile or something” but she had stayed quiet.

Hull said he had also asked the teen “what are you doing tonight? Do you want to go out somewhere, do something? I was just being stupid.”

Barry William Hull, 82, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful stalking, intimidation or harassment when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court on Monday.

“I said, ‘come on, look at the fun we had last time’, not that there was ever a last time.”

The court heard Hull had no previous criminal history.

Duty lawyer Warren Hunter said Hull was single and was on the aged pension.

He said there was no intent from Hull to cause the offence, but the young girl had obviously been concerned.

Mr Hunter said Hull had directed similar behaviour at other employees at the shop, which he had frequented at times.

The difference was in the ages of the employees as the young girl obviously felt very uncomfortable with the behaviour, Mr Hunter said.

“But my client comes from an era where females were referred to as love or babe or whatever.”

He said Hull’s history would suggest he had been a law-abiding citizen for a long period of time and he had not meant any harm by his behaviour.

Hull had been banned from the business, the court heard.

Magistrate John Milburn said the complainant had been young, vulnerable and apprehensive.

He said he accepted that Hull accepted his remorse and had demonstrated insight into his offending.

Mr Milburn said Hull’s behaviour had caused the girl to be uncomfortable or concerned.

He said he did not sentence Hull on the basis that the overtures were sexual, but the stalking was persistent.

Hull was fined $1000 and no conviction was recorded.

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Originally published as Barry William Hull pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful stalking