Infatuated shopper stalked teenage checkout operator

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A Te Puke man became infatuated with a teenage girl working at a local supermarket and stalked her for several months, regularly visiting her checkout, writing love letters, sending flowers and notes to call him despite numerous warnings to stop.

Edward Whareotiri Rahiri, 51, pleaded guilty to charges of wilful trespass and criminal harassment in Tauranga District Court this week.

Rahiri's offending began in 2009 when the victim was 17 and continued until May 4 this year. His lawyer, Cate Andersen, said it started not long after Rahiri's wife died.

In August 2009, Rahiri began regularly going through the victim's Countdown supermarket checkout.

The victim and her work colleagues noticed his visits became more regular - three to four times a week.

Even though other shoppers were waiting in line and other checkouts were free, Rahiri would wait until he could be served by the victim.

After three weeks the victim saw him standing outside the shop watching her through the window as she worked one evening.

Rahiri handed over a letter to a colleague in which he wrote that he loved the victim from the day he first saw her and believed she felt the same way.

He was warned to keep away by her employer and her relatives.

A trespass notice was served on him in July and the problems stopped.

But this March, the harassment started again.

Ms Andersen told Judge Heather Simpson Rahiri believed he could still communicate with his wife telepathically and received telepathic communications during his visits to the supermarket.

Rahiri was remanded on bail for sentencing on August 25. Judge Simpson called for a departmental psychologist report.

- APN