SAM TOGNARELLI FROM BALLINGRY CAUGHT STALKING NEIGHBORS IN COWDENBEATH

In a disturbing series of events that unfolded in Cowdenbeath, a resident of Fife named Sam Tognarelli, aged 32 and residing on Westwood Crescent, was found to have engaged in persistent stalking behavior targeting a neighbor’s home between October 6 and October 15. The incidents took place at an address located in Tulloch Court, where Tognarelli’s actions raised serious concerns about personal safety and privacy.

According to reports, Tognarelli was caught on a neighbor’s CCTV footage lurking near the victim’s residence during late-night hours. The footage revealed him frequently prowling around the property, often in the darkness of night, and on multiple occasions, he entered the back garden of the house without permission. Witnesses observed him urinating on the side of the house during one of these visits, an act that added to the troubling nature of his conduct.

Further disturbing was his repeated peering into the victim’s bedroom window, which was captured on the CCTV footage. The homeowner, who recognized Tognarelli from the footage, noted that he had been arriving late at night and early in the morning, always arriving by car. The homeowner’s concern grew as she realized the extent of his presence around her property, which she found invasive and threatening.

It was only when the neighbor confronted Tognarelli on the night he returned again, showing him the CCTV footage, that the situation escalated to involve law enforcement. The police were called to address the matter, and during questioning, Tognarelli claimed that he was simply out for walks at night. However, the evidence from the CCTV footage contradicted his statement, revealing a pattern of repeated visits to the property.

He also claimed that he was at the house to check on his aunt’s residence while she was away on holiday, but he failed to provide any further explanation during court proceedings. Tognarelli appeared before Dunfermline Sheriff Court, where he pleaded guilty to the charges of stalking, which included multiple visits, loitering, peering into the bedroom window, and the act of urinating on the house.

In sentencing, Sheriff Susan Duff imposed a community payback order requiring Tognarelli to complete 150 hours of unpaid work. Throughout the court proceedings, Tognarelli chose to represent himself, and no defense was presented on his behalf. The case highlights the serious nature of stalking behaviors and the importance of legal measures to protect individuals from invasive and threatening conduct.