A Central Otago man obsessively pursued a woman for three months and set up fake social media accounts to contact her, a court has heard.
Narayan Prasad Bastola (24) appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday after pleading guilty to harassment and assault.
The pair met in 2016, the court heard, and they became friends.
But in Bastola’s mind the relationship was something more.
When he returned from a trip to Nepal in November 2016, the 19-year-old victim made it clear she did not want any contact with him.
"You found great difficulty accepting reality," Judge Kevin Phillips said.
"She was just more and more concerned about this obsession."
When Bastola repeatedly contacted the teenager by phone and social media, she blocked him.
Undeterred, the man established new accounts using an alias and tried to get in touch with her again.
Defence counsel Russell Checketts said his client was unaware the victim had a boyfriend but Judge Phillips scoffed at that suggestion.
"He just continued and continued and continued," he said.
After three months of harassment, in February last year, Bastola drove from Alexandra to the woman’s workplace and accosted her when she left the premises.
The teen refused to speak to him but he was relentless.
"You broke her down. You broke down her resolve," the judge said.
The victim gave him five minutes, but Bastola had no plans for a quick chat.
Once she was in his car he set off and drove out of town until she told him "extremely forcefully" to stop the car.
He did, but when she walked away he grabbed her from behind around the neck.
The victim struggled free but again Bastola pounced.This time a passing motorist stopped and took her to the police station.
Mr Checketts said in all other aspects of his client’s life, he had been a contributing member of society.
"She said no and he couldn’t really accept that," he said.
Judge Phillips was concerned Bastola’s attitude had not changed when considering comments he made to a probation officer.
The man was sentenced to 120 hours’ community work, six months’ supervision and ordered to pay the victim $500.
Judge Phillips said he wanted to make the situation perfectly clear to Bastola before he left the dock.
"It has to end. She does not want anything to do with you at all, now or in the future."
