Mayor sentenced for stalking women
BBCA mayor who used his position to access information to stalk two women has been sentenced.
Mayor of Whitehaven Graham Roberts displayed "obsessive" behaviour over a woman working at his local pub, but sent letters to the address of another woman, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.
Whitehaven Town Council said Roberts was still the mayor but stood down in September 2024 due to health problems.
The CPS said the 72-year-old had "abused his position" to cause the two women "a lot of distress".
Roberts admitted two counts of stalking and was handed a 12-month community order and a 12-month restraining order at Workington Magistrates' Court.
Roberts stood down - but did not resign - from his role in 2024, which means he technically still continues to be the mayor of Whitehaven.
The council said in the absence of the mayor, the deputy mayor Chris Hayes would take his place.
Unsolicited letters
Roberts, of Aikbank Road, Whitehaven, sent letters that were intended for a woman he had met at his local pub, commenting on her figure and suggesting she was his "soul mate".
The woman told Cumbria Police that Roberts had "continually asked to date her and persisted despite the fact that she had never accepted his invitation".
Roberts accessed the electoral role to get an address, but made a mistake and sent the letters to another woman.
The CPS said the woman who received the letters initially did not know who was sending them, until Roberts enclosed his business card.
'Being watched'
In her victim impact statement, she explained she had since felt "very anxious and on edge".
"I have been constantly looking out of my window at nights to see if there is anyone there," she said.
She told the CPS she had a feeling she was being watched and had to change her routine.
The intended recipient of the letters said it had "left her feeling nervous" and said the "behaviour was unwanted and frankly odd".
Roberts pleaded guilty to two counts of stalking and was given a 12-month community order with a 10-day rehabilitation requirement, fined £294 and given a 12-month restraining order against one woman.
Rachel Parker, senior crown prosecutor for CPS North West, said his behaviour "caused two women a lot of anxiety and distress".
"After becoming infatuated with a woman, he abused his position as a councillor to access confidential records to try and find her address," she added.
"The impact of Roberts' behaviour is clear; both women were uncomfortable and anxious, and one woman was forced to change her daily routines, leaving her paranoid and mistrusting of others in her life."