Stalking postman made life a 'living hell' for Flintshire woman

[POSTMAN]

https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/19535 ... ire-woman/

A POSTMAN from Flintshire has been spared jail after making a woman’s life a ‘living hell’.

Roger Taylor, 61, of Birkdale Avenue, Buckley, admitted causing serious Caernarfon Crown Court was told how he made the lives of a Connah’s Quay woman and her family a ‘living hell’ for over three years.

The prosecutor, Richard Edwards, told the court Taylor first met his victim when she began working at the Post Office in 2015 and they had a friendly relationship as co-workers.

The woman took a period of sick leave from work that happened to coincide with the 2016 Olympics held in Brazil.

This led to jokes between the pair that she had taken time off to compete as an athlete.

After this, it was said that Taylor would leave photos and newspaper cuttings around her workspace at the Post Office.

At the time, the woman thought it was a harmless joke.

In December 2017 Taylor unbuttoned his shirt to show his co-worker he had drawn a heart on his chest that included her initials.

The female Post Office employee went on long-term sick leave before medically retiring in July 2018. She then got a new job in the Sealand area that August.

The court heard how she would pass through Garden City where Taylor was known to deliver post and on one occasion stopped to chat with him. He suggested that they keep in touch and she agreed.

This was maintained via email.

The prosecutor says that these messages remained ‘of a friendly nature’.

However, it would often include some ‘random remarks’ - one such being he was digging a basement at his house to lock her in.

The court hard how they developed their relationship by going for dog walks twice a week before beginning a ‘brief affair’.

On Boxing Day 2018, the woman was sent an abuse-filled email from Taylor’s daughter after she learnt of their relationship. It subsequently ended between the pair.

Taylor asked to remain friends but his victim said this was not a good idea.

Months later Taylor turned up at her new workplace with flowers and a card during her lunch break.

In the autumn the court heard how the woman’s Ring doorbell showed video footage of Taylor looking through windows before telling the camera ‘I’ll be back’.

The woman agreed to meet him at a nearby Starbucks with a work colleague present where she told Taylor that he must leave her and her family alone.

In 2020, Taylor went back to the house with some of the victim’s post.

The court heard that this was suspicious as it was not his usual post round and the couple had recently moved house.

The woman reported Taylor to Royal Mail where he was given a warning.

On Valentines Day a card came through the door and a card and flowers were left on the doorstep on another day.

In November, Taylor contacted the victim’s husband via social media with screenshots of the emails he shared with his wife.

Weeks later Taylor sat parked in front of the house.

The prosecutor explained how this made the victim feel scared.

In June of this year, Taylor approached the victim whilst she was out at work.

She managed to lock herself in the car before he reached her.

Taylor was arrested that day, June 24, after the woman made a complaint to the police.

Officers attended his home and found a life-sized cardboard cut-out of actress Julia Roberts that he had attached a photo of the woman onto.

He made admissions to what he had done – but attempted to justify his actions by saying he felt ‘bitter’ as his life had been ‘ruined’ since their relationship ended.

The defence, Daffyd Roberts, said that there is a ‘clear obsession’ which Taylor struggled to control his feelings for.

He added that there must be some credit given to the fact that he caused no physical harm to the family – but acknowledges there is a ‘great deal’ psychological damage in this case.

Taylor had made full and frank admissions to his actions and was aware of what upset and misery he has put the family through as a whole for years.

Judge Nicola Jones sentenced Taylor to two years in prison after hearing the case – but opted to suspend that sentence.

She said: “You made her life nothing short of a living hell for three years.

“You’ve had time to sit down and consider the impact of your actions. It is clear that your obsessive behaviour had got the better of you during this period of time.”

Taylor must complete a rehabilitation programme in the community that lasts 30 days. He must also be electronically tagged for two years and was given an indefinite restraining order to stay away from the family.

A separate order was made for cardboard cut-out seized by police to be destroyed.