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A 61-year-old Palmerston North man has escaped a possible jail term for stalking a woman by booking a one-way ticket to the United Kingdom.
John Sutcliffe, a former medical physicist with MidCentral Health, is hoping the air ticket he has booked for tomorrow will put an end to his "obsession", the Manawatu Standard reported.
Appearing in Palmerston North District Court yesterday, Sutcliffe was sentenced for breaching a restraining order taken out against him by his victim, with whom he had struck up what was initially a platonic relationship last year.
However, the relationship progressed and the woman felt increasingly "uncomfortable", the court was told.
During the relationship the woman was given, allegedly through deceit, $283,000, or nearly all of Sutcliffe's life savings, defence lawyer Phillip Drummond said.
Court proceedings have since recovered $93,000 and further legal action is planned to recoup $177,000.
Once the money "ran out" so too did the friendship, Mr Drummond said.
On three occasions, Sutcliffe was caught driving by the woman's house, following or watching her.
As a result of a complaint from the woman, Sutcliffe lost his job, and "he felt his life was ruined".
Mr Drummond asked Judge Les Atkins not to impose a prison sentence as Sutcliffe planned to leave for England on Saturday.
Judge Atkins described Sutcliffe's offending as "obsessive" and said it had gone on too long.
He was concerned that Sutcliffe could still contact the woman by phone and email.
However, he fined Sutcliffe $2750 and urged him to move on with his life, despite loss and disappointments.
- NZPA
