NURSE STALKED FOR THREE YEARS
A STALKER who pursued a young nurse for more than three years pleaded guilty to three counts of harassment during a hearing at Tameside Magistrates’ Court.
Terrence Duffy, of Walker Avenue, Stalybridge, was arrested in Tameside Hospital after threatening to kill the nurse and racially abusing her colleagues.
When police searched the 60-year-old’s home they discovered a shrine dedicated to the staff nurse along with details of her family.
Duffy first met his victim at the Ash Tree Pub in Ashton, while she was studying at Tameside College.
He stalked her for more than three and-a-half years making cold calls, leaving messages and sending letters to her address.
After Duffy’s victim left Tameside to study at Manchester University he found out where she was and turned up in the Union Bar.
In November 2010 the student nurse made a statement to police saying: “He’s clearly fixated with me. I don’t understand what he wants from me.
“He found out my address and phone number and it has scared me.”
Police issued Duffy with a restraining order but he refused to sign it, stating he wanted to hear it from his victim herself.
On February 4 this year Duffy turned up on the ward in Tameside Hospital where his victim works.
After approaching her with a smirk on his face he said: “You won’t get out alive.”
As the nurse’s colleagues defended her Duffy began to racially abuse them asking: “What country do you come from?” and telling them to “go back home”.
Becky Slate, prosecuting, said: “This is a serious matter of persistent harassment stalking.”
A statement from the victim read by Miss Slate to the court said: “Since I met him I’m very scared of him. I won’t shop in Manchester and I take a longer way to work.”
Duffy’s defence Colin Ingham said his client “failed to understand that she didn’t want him near her.”
He added that his client apologised for the distress he caused his victim and her colleagues.
Since being arrested Duffy has been held in a secure psychiatric unit, while being assessed by doctors.
Magistrates adjourned the case until April 18 for the probation service to provide reports for a community or custodial sentence.
Duffy was refused bail and remanded in custody after the bench expressed their concerns he would offend again or interfere with witnesses.
