Stalking accused ‘loitered’ outside woman’s work, court hears

AN Omagh man has appeared in court in relation to charges of stalking a female in a campaign which was allegedly ongoing for over a year.

Raymond Newell (49), from McClay Park, is charged with engaging in a course of conduct amounting to stalking which caused the injured party to suffer fear, alarm or substantial distress on various dates between December 2022 and January 3 this year.

It is further alleged he pursued a course of conduct amounting to harassment of the injured party’s mother on January 4.

A police officer aware of the facts of the case told Dungannon Magistrates Court the charges could be connected.

She explained, on Christmas Day, police were made aware that Newell, who was previously investigated for harassing the injured party, had ‘liked’ a series of photographs she had added to her TikTok.

It also emerged he had been contacting her friends and loitering around her workplace.

This conduct caused her so much distress that she resolved to leave her job which she previously loved.

Prior to this she resigned from a local band owing to Newell’s behaviour.

She provided a statement to police as did her friend who provided screenshots of a number of messages from Newell in which he made numerous references to the injured party.

In addition, her mother told police Newell was “manufacturing opportunities to walk past her house and was watching her home and following her children”.

This left the mother feeling uncomfortable going into her own back garden.

Newell was arrested outside the injured party’s place of work on January 3 and a search of his home recovered a pair of binoculars from his bedroom which faced towards the injured party’s home.

As it was not possible to interview him at that stage he was released on bail.

Within hours, police received a report of Newell standing outside his home shouting that he loved the injured party and directing abuse towards her mother.

He was intoxicated and began smashing bottles around his property.

Following arrest this time he was not released as it was felt he could not return to his home due to what had occurred.

Objecting to bail, the officer said, “Police feel there is a likelihood of reoffending and witness interference. The defendant was released on bail at 6pm and was arrested for harassing one of the witnesses seven hours later. His address is in close proximity to the injured party’s home and is no longer suitable.”

A defence solicitor suggested bail could be granted to an address away from the injured party and the officer confirmed this was possible “with other conditions in place”.

The defence proffered the address of one of Newell’s relatives but it transpired this was in the same housing development.

Deputy District Judge Sean O’Hare remarked, “Any residence needs to be out of Omagh and unless it is, I’m going to need some convincing of a package to support bail.”

He agreed to release Newell on £500 bail but only if an address is found which is suitable to police.

Further conditions included no contact directly or indirectly with the injured party or her mother, a ban on entering the area of their homes or the Hospital Road area of Omagh and must refrain from consuming alcohol.

Judge O’Hare warned Newell, “Do not be pushing the envelope or trying your luck by going to those areas and standing just outside the boundary. It won’t work.”

The case was adjourned for mention at Omagh Magistrates Court on January 23.