Natasha Rudra June 29, 2012
A "lovesick puppy" who pretended to be a police officer in his quest to win back an ex-girlfriend has been convicted of stalking.
Adrian Stefani, 20, of Wanniassa, was told he had to let go of the failed relationship and "chill out" in any further romantic liaisons.
Stefani pleaded guilty to one charge of stalking and two counts of representing himself as a police officer.
The ACT Magistrates Court heard Stefani repeatedly contacted the ex-girlfriend and his obsessive behaviour left her feeling scared and upset.
He also made two phonecalls in which he pretended to be a police officer to get information about the young woman.
Stefani told the court he was embarrassed and remorseful for his actions and was willing to accept whatever punishment the court gave him.
He said he had given the young woman a $1500 ring, which he was still paying off, and had been trying to get the ring back.
Magistrate Beth Campbell told Stefani his actions had been "really harassing" for his ex-girlfriend and her family but said she believed he had some insight into how much distress he had caused the victim.
Ms Campbell advised Stefani to let go of the expensive ring, which had been a gift, and to accept the relationship was over.
She also told him to "chill a little bit" when it came to future relationships.
"In my experience women like men who are a little hard to get," she said.
Ms Campbell convicted Stefani of stalking and placed him on a 12-month good-behaviour order.
She did not record convictions on the two counts of pretending to be a police officer, but imposed two six-month good-behaviour orders to run concurrently with the first order.