Stalking Awareness Week is important because it raises the profile of a serious crime. Stalking is NOT love. In fact, it can be described as:
- Fixated
- Obsessive
- Unwanted
- Repeated
We can remember those as FOUR. They are the elements that you can look out for if you are concerned that someone is stalking you.
Sadly, there have been many high-profile cases of stalking in the UK. It’s important to know that you can go to the police after just two cases of stalking. If someone’s behaviour leads to you feeling uncomfortable and threatened, you should act, immediately.
What follows is the story of Clare Bernal.
Please note this is a tragic story and may act as a trigger to some.
Clare Bernal was a 22-year-old beauty consultant who worked at Harvey Nichols. Michael was a security guard at the same store and after meeting her asked her out. They only went on three dates before Clare broke it off because of his obsessive and controlling behaviour. This led to weeks of stalking, threats, and ultimately, Clare’s murder.
Obsessive warning signs
Clare ended things with Michael and she thought that would be the end of it. But as he worked at the same department store, he kept watching her. He’d loiter near the counter she worked on and even used mirrors to spy on her.
Michael started to follow Clare home, where he’d wait outside for hours, calling her on her phone. Often as much as 50 times a day. Clare felt too embarrassed to get the police involved at first. However, after he attacked her on a train station, and told her if she reported him, he’d kill her, she finally did.
Reported behaviour
Clare reported his behaviour to the head of security at Harvey Nichols. After they moved him to a different floor, they saw he still persisted. This is when they suggested she report him to the police. After Clare went to the police he was arrested for harassment and then put on bail. He was issued a non-molestation order to stay away from Clare. He was then sacked from Harvey Nichols. Staff at the store had all been told to watch out for this man entering the store as he was barred from it.
Clare started to feel slightly safer and tried to get on with her life.
A few weeks later Clare was at work finishing a late shift. Michael entered the store with a gun and shot Clare in the back of the head, at point blank ranged. He then turned the gun on himself.
In 2010, Clare’s mother Patricia set up the charity Protection Against Stalking Helpline which is now run by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust. For all Patricia’s work she was awarded an MBE.
If you feel you are being stalked and are in immediate danger, call 999.
If you want to speak to someone who can help you identify stalking behaviour, contact us or the national stalking helpline on 0808 802 0300.
