A Pembroke Dock man has been given a restraining order after admitting harassing a shop assistant in the town.
Sixty-year-old Bernard Brady, of Commercial Row, pleaded guilty to a charge of pursuing a course of conduct which amounted to the harassment of a staff member at Specsavers, between August 29 and October 12, when he appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court, on Tuesday.
The charge stated that Mr. Brady repeatedly passed the complainant’s place of work on Dimond Street, and on two occasions made threatening gestures and on a further occasion spat towards her.
Prosecutor Ellie Morgan told the court that the complainant who worked at the store was made aware of Mr. Brady who had previously made complaints against a former staff member, who looked very similar in height and hair colour.
“He may have mistakenly believed the complainant to be the former staff member he had an issue with. The complainant started to keep notes of every incident where Mr. Brady walked past the shop and made gestures.”
The court heard how on various occasions, Mr. Brady would walk by the store, in some instances, three times a day, and make gestures that would include - pointing to his eye to let her know he was watching her; clenching his fist; making a middle finger gesture.
On one occasion he made a slit throat gesture and even spat towards the store.
“This was witnessed by another staff member, and it left the complainant feeling scared and angry, alarmed and stressed.
Mr. Brady was given a warning by the police over his behaviour, but carried on with his harassment, the court heard.
“When he was arrested by police and interviewed, he held his hands up to apologise that he had made the staff member feel uncomfortable and did accept various incidents where he tapped his eye as he walked by, but not every incident put to him,” continued Ms. Morgan,
The defendant’s defence solicitor told magistrates that Mr. Brady disputed some of the examples of his behaviour, but accepted that it was harassment.
Magistrates gave Mr. Brady a 12-month community order, with a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement of 25 days.
He was also given a restraining order to last until 2022, with the terms not to contact the complainant directly or indirectly; not to enter Dimond Street; and not to cause or permit any data to be entered on any electronic device, network or the internet that refers directly or by necessary inference to the complainant.
Mr. Brady was ordered to pay compensation to the complainant of £150, prosecution costs of £85 and an £85 victim surcharge.