Stalker with 'unhealthy obsession' with former colleague even contacted her in prison
A lovestruck suitor is facing a jail sentence after bombarding a former work colleague with unwanted messages saying he was lost without her.
A judge was told Thomas Heslip developed “an unhealthy obsession” with the woman even though they had only worked together for about a month and had not had a relationship.
The victim, who had made it clear she was not interested, eventually called the police saying his creepy attention was “putting the fear of God into me”.
Preston Crown Court heard some of the troubling messages had even been sent from the city’s prison where Heslip was serving time for arson.
The 29-year-old, who had a previous conviction for harassing another woman, pleaded guilty to a charge of stalking causing fear of violence.
He will be sentenced on December 11 after the case was adjourned to allow the prosecution to finalise the details of a restraining order banning him from making any contact with the woman.
Barrister Cecilia Pritchard, prosecuting, said the victim knew Heslip as a colleague from when they worked together “purely professionally” in 2021 for about a month.
“Despite this he developed an unhealthy obsession with her,” she said. He had sent her messages and she had told the police about his behaviour and “made it clear that she did not want any contact from him”.
After that she didn’t hear from him for a while, but then in October 2024 he got in touch again, sending her a letter from prison. Ms Pritchard said he had gone to “some considerable effort to find her” at her business address in Bacup.
She told Heslip she didn’t want any contact with him and nothing further occurred until this year when she received messages on Facebook.
In his first message he said: “I just want to apologise for last year. I am ashamed. That wasn’t me talking it was the alcohol. I am sorry.” But then he added: “I can’t function without you.”
A week later he messaged again congratulating her on success at work but added: “I don’t understand why you are trying to hurt me.”
The following day he wrote: “I can’t believe you haven’t realised I need you. I am struggling with that.
“I have been loyal to you. I am lost without you.”
He then linked a newspaper article about an arson attack in Tyne and Wear. “It alarmed her because she was aware he was in custody for arson,” said Ms Pritchard.
A month later he linked another arson attack and said: “Can we not at least be friends?”
At that point she contacted the police again and he was arrested and interviewed.
He fully accepted he had never been in a relationship with the woman but admitted he was obsessed with her. He acknowledged sending the article which had caused her distress. He told police he was sorry, he had mental health issues and he loved her.
In a victim impact statement read to the court the woman said the messages had caused her alarm and distress and had had a “devastating effect” on her life, leaving her feeling unsafe.
She had now decided to carry a rape alarm and a pepper spray and had put CCTV cameras up around her home.
She said: “This has severely damaged my mental health. I no longer feel safe in my own home. It has taken away my peace of mind.
“This has put the fear of God into me. I worry about what he is capable of. I just want to live in peace.”
The court heard that Heslip, of Liverpool Road, Skelmersdale, had two previous convictions, one for harassment and the other for arson. Both related to another woman who he had a short relationship with lasting about a month.
“This is a different victim, but there are some similarities in this offence,” said Ms Pritchard.
Heslip was recalled to prison after that incident where he is now serving out the remainder of his sentence for the arson conviction (29 months). He was on licence from that when he admitted stalking his latest victim.
Barrister Darren Finnigan, for Heslip, said his client had accepted his responsibility for the offence and he had shown remorse for what he had done.
“It is quite clear from the messages that he had an unhealthy obsession with this lady. He struggles with her rejection.
“He fell in love with her. He couldn’t get her out of his head.”
He added that when he had contacted the woman he had been intoxicated.
“He has a borderline personality disorder which makes him act compulsively,” he said.
The sentencing will resume on December 11 when Recorder Katie Jones has asked for a clear “exclusion zone” to be decided in the Rossendale Valley to prohibit Heslip from contacting the victim when he is released from prison.