An engineering student's two-year obsession with a yoga teacher he stalked has resulted in a ban from entering London.
Birmingham University student Krystian Czekaj, 30, of Ashton Road, Rugely, Staffordshire "scared" the young woman when he suddenly appeared at her new workplace.
He pleaded guilty to stalking Emily Lacy between July 2014 and May 17, which he knew amounted to harassing her.
He turned up outside Sangye Yoga, 300 Kensal Road, North Kensington on May 6, which was the final straw and Miss Lacy called the police.
Yesterday he was sentenced to eight weeks imprisonment, suspended for two years and must complete a probation-ordered twenty-five day rehabilitation activity requirement.
Prosecutor Mr. Kunal Dave told Hammersmith Magistrates Court Czekaj began taking yoga classes in Birmingham and asked Miss Lacy out for a cup of tea.
She rejected his requests and he subsequently followed her and a friend to a restaurant, where he stared at them through the windows.
"He sent her letters professing his love for her and would telephone her work looking for her and also sent flowers, card and a teddy bear."
She reported him to police while in Birmingham and the harassment stopped, but began again after her move to London.
His lawyer Mr. Rodney Coleman told Hammersmith Magistrates Court: "There's a history here, first in Birmingham and then it gets more serious when he comes to London and pursues the same course.
"He's an intelligent person, but Miss Lacy did not want a relationship with him.
"He has now said: 'If I am released I won't contact her.'
"By pursuing his ardent behaviour he may have thought she would become interested in him."
In her victim impact statement Ms Lacy said: "I feel scared that Krystian turned up at my workplace at Sangye Yoga.
"I want this to stop and feel vulnerable by his actions. I can't keep Krystian out of my thoughts, I'm worried by Krystian following me.
"This is not normal behaviour, it is weird. I wish he would never contact me or come near me again.
"I don't want to worry about this for the rest of my life."
Magistrate Mr. Henry McGrill told Czekaj: "You pleaded guilty to stalking and in this case it is harassment for two years, concluding in a visit to Miss Lacy's place of work and you came down from Birmingham to do so.
"Mr. Coleman, on your behalf, suggests you do not fully understand what you have done and won't do it again.
"We're going to give you a chance to prove what you must and must not do."
A condition of the sentence was that Czekaj cannot cross the M25 for two years and he was made subject to an indefinite restraining order prohibiting contact with Miss Lacy or visiting her workplace.
"Any breach of any of these orders will result in prison for you and I understand you have spent some time there on remand and will not want to go back."
He will not have to pay compensation to the victim. "I'm sure Miss Lacy would rather be shot of the whole matter," added the magistrate.
An order to pay £85 costs and a £115 victim surcharge was substituted of the time he has spent in custody.
An engineering student's two-year obsession with a yoga teacher he stalked has resulted in a ban from entering London.
The magistrates have made the wrong decision .....only 10 days after that decision was made ..... ban from entering London for two years Mr Czekaj has turned up at the victims yoga studio in LONDON
ReplyDeleteWhen are the magistrates going to take this case seriously ?
Also Birmingham University added to the dailymail online June 8th that he has never been a student at Birmingham University
This puts doubt over his full identity has it been checked thoroughly by the magistrates and police ?