46-year-old UK Lecturer Restrained from Contacting Girl Student He Had Stalked

A UK lecturer has been restrained by a magistrate from contacting a girl student he had been stalking. He had plagued her with as many as 300 text messages one weekend.

Paul Kavanagh, 46, struck up a friendship with Jacqueline Pickstock, 31, while acting as her supervisor when she was studying for a criminology degree at Southampton Solent University, Hants. After a while though, she ended the relationship and opted for another man.

But Kavanagh, of Christchurch, Dorset, would not give in. He began telephoning and bombarding her with mobile phone text messages, Bournemouth Magistrates Court heard.

When she had her telephone blocked, he started leaving letters in her pigeon hole, declaring his love for her and sending e-mails.

Pickstock eventually complained to the police about the lecturer's behaviour, He received a warning letter and was eventually arrested in October 2007.

He denied harassing her, but was found guilty following a trial in June this year. The court has now imposed a restraining order preventing him from contacting Pickstock.

He was also given a 12 month community order with 200 hours of community work to carry out as well as £625 costs to pay.

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He is currently suspended from his post at the university. But Pickstock has since graduated with a first class honours degree.

Pc Rachel Bedford, of Hampshire Police's public protection unit, said Kavanagh's messages had not been threatening but nevertheless left her "very upset and scared."

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Source-Medindia
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