Dale Selwyn Murphy pleaded guilty to stalking young woman at Gladstone servo

A Queensland man developed an unhealthy ‘shine’ on a young woman, first asking her for coffee multiple times and when she said no he sat in the car park watching her for hours.

Dale Selwyn Murphy.

An older man’s infatuation with a young woman left her terrified after he stalked her, for hours at a time, at her workplace.

On multiple times between November 18 and December 3, 2023 Dale Selwyn Murphy attended a service station in Gladstone where the 25 year old worked.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard Murphy asked her for coffee, which she declined.

He also entered the building and spoke to her colleagues.

“And each time he has attended, particularly on (November) 19 and 25, he’s sat at the front in plain view of the victim for hours at a time,” Police prosecutor Sergeant Linden Pollard said.

The court hear Murphy returned twice when the young woman wasn’t working and once again when she was rostered on.

“When he’s attended again it’s caused so much fear and anxiety to the victim that she’s had to hide within her own workplace so that there is no contact with (Murphy),” Sergeant Pollard said.

“The offending was constant in its nature, with the extended surveillance … by sitting outside the (service station), to cause that fear and anxiety in the victim.”

Murphy, 63, pleaded guilty in Mackay Magistrates Court to stalking and possessing a used drug utensil.

“It seems you’ve taken a shine to (her),” Acting magistrate Nigel Rees said.

“The circumstances are quite bizarre.”

Sergeant Pollard pushed for a term of imprisonment as penalty because of the “extended aggravating feature” that Murphy had attended the site multiple times for “hours a time” causing the victim fear and anxiety.

But, he said, as a “specific deterrence” the jail term should be wholly suspended.

Barron and Allen Lawyers solicitor Aaron said although it was concerning it was a short period of stalking and argued a sentence of imprisonment should be a last resort, instead pushing for probation.

Mr Sellentin said his client suffered from Parkinson’s disease, had been depressed since his father’s death about seven or eight years ago and had been diagnosed with schizophrenic disorder.

The court heard he was medicated and attended mental health sessions for delusions.

Murphy had no like history for stalking.

“You have spent hours at a time sat in the car park,” Acting Magistrate Rees said.
“You have caused this young lady fear and apprehension by your behaviour.”

Mr Rees said Murphy had a background of polysubstance misuse and entries for drug offending that “may account for your behaviour”.

“That said it was quite terrifying for this young lady,” he said.

Mr Rees found there was no reasonable alternative to jail and sentenced Murphy to two months jail and did not declare the 66 days already spent in presentence custody.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Dale Selwyn Murphy pleaded guilty to stalking young woman at Gladstone servo