A woman fought hard to hold back tears in court today as she described how she had become “a prisoner in her own home” because of persistent harassment and stalking by a man who she dated in 1992.

She explained how she had to constantly watch her back and take a family member with her wherever she went, even to church, because she was so scared of this man.

“I’m living in jail at home. Even to go to the pharmacy or to church, I have to take someone with me because he is capable of these attacks. He harassed me, threatened me and followed me constantly between 1992 when we dated and 2000 when it suddenly stopped.

"My youth was disrupted. I used to find him outside my house, he used to call me but since 2000 he went all quiet until I received three letters from him last year,” the woman told Magistrate Aaron Bugeja.

She was testifying against the man, whose name cannot be published by court order, who stands accused of harassing the woman last year, misusing electronic equipment and accusing her of committing a crime he knew was untrue.

The woman, who must also remain unnamed, said she received three letters in June, September and December last year which forced her to file a police report against the man.

The last letter was an email the man supposedly sent to the school where the victim was employed in which she was also described as a “paedophile”.

In his letter, he claimed that when she was 17, a few months after they had broken off their two-and-a-half month relationship, she had dated a 14-year-old.
She said she had checked with her superiors and the school had not received the email.

I am a psychological wreck because of this man. Something must be done about him because I cannot continue living this life.

“I am a psychological wreck because of this man. Something must be done about him because I cannot continue living this life. I cannot even have a Facebook account and I’m very careful on who takes photographs of me. I am his victim and I’m the one who’s in jail.

The man, who chose to defend himself instead of appointing a lawyer, showed the woman a photograph of the other man but she denied knowing him.

Before the sitting began, the man threatened journalists present in the courtroom with libels, even insisting on knowing the names of the registered editors.

At one point, a police officer intervened to sit the man down while the magistrate warned him that the media had the right to be present during court hearing that were open to the public. He warned him to refrain from making a scene in court.

Police Inspector Kylie Borg prosecuted. Lawyers Kris Busietta and Jason Azopardi appeared parte civile for the woman. 

The case continues in May.