“Kumar developed an infatuation with the victim"
Satish Kumar, aged 29, of Dundee, was jailed for three years for stalking a woman over a seven-year period.
Chester Crown Court heard that he obsessed over the woman despite never actually meeting her in person.
Kumar first contacted the woman, from Chester, via Facebook after they both studied at Leeds University between 2013 and 2016.
For two years, he bombarded the 26-year-old with messages until she blocked him.
Between November 2018 and January 2020, Kumar messaged her friends in an attempt to speak to her.
On one occasion, Kumar told her friend he was on a train to Chester to meet her. In another message, he said he was waiting outside her workplace.
According to police, he had talked to the victim’s colleagues.
On October 10, 2021, Kumar travelled to Chester to her family’s home and asked a stranger about her in the street.
He also went to a pub in the area to enquire about her and her family. Over three weeks, he visited the pub with a card and chocolates.
The stalking came to an end that same day when he was reported to police. Kumar was subsequently charged.
Kumar told officers that he believed they were a couple and were meant to get married and have children.
He pleaded guilty to stalking with fear of violence.
Judge Simon Berkshire said Kumar was “in the highest category of harm and culpability” and was “the definition of a stalker”.
Kumar was jailed for three years.
He also received an indefinite restraining order.
Detective Inspector Danielle Knox, from Chester Local Policing Unit, said:
“Kumar developed an infatuation with the victim despite never having a face-to-face conversation with her.
“After seeing her at university he found her on social media and repeatedly messaged her.
“After she blocked him he then travelled the country to speak to her friends and family to try and get her to be in a relationship with him, even attending her work and speaking to her colleagues on numerous occasions.
“Kumar began telling his family the pair were in a relationship and inviting them to Chester to meet her which eventually led to him being reported and arrested.
“During his police interview, he continued to believe they were a couple telling officers they were meant to get married and have children.
“His obsession was very apparent and it was clear he would never stop until the police became involved.”
“The victim endured seven years of Kumar’s stalking and simply wanted it to go away.
“She realised his behaviour was a criminal offence and sought support by reporting it to police and he was swiftly arrested.
“I hope this highlights the behaviours of stalking to perpetrators and victims and I would encourage anyone who feels they are a victim of this crime to report it to police straight away.”
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