Man, 61, convicted of persistent stalking of teenage sisters

MAN, 61, CONVICTED OF PERSISTENT STALKING OF TEENAGE SISTERS

Robert Bloomfield, aged 61, a former Big Issue seller, was convicted of stalking after frightening two sisters over an eight-month period.

The court was informed that Bloomfield first engaged the older girl in conversation on a bus in Fort William, asking her questions including her name.

Following this encounter, he often appeared near her home, sitting in a camper van, which made her feel uneasy.

On one occasion, he stretched out his arm from his vehicle to stop her as she passed by.

The girl eventually began taking longer routes to avoid him after a month of this behavior.

She met him again on High Street and saw him at the end of her street, which terrified her further when he mentioned trying to access her work.

She then moved in with her boyfriend for safety.

Bloomfield also twice approached the girl’s 12-year-old sister when she was walking home from a park.

The incidents occurred between March 1, 2019, and October 2, 2019.

Bloomfield has a prior conviction for stalking a woman several years ago.

The court ordered Bloomfield to keep away from the siblings and scheduled his sentencing for October 5.

He was initially granted bail with conditions not to contact or approach the girls, while a background report was prepared.