Harassment case highlighted vet's fall from grace

A vet who, a court was told, moved house so he could drive past a colleague’s home on his commute to work and stare at her through the window has been handed a suspended jail term.

Victor Daniel Pousada Garcia, 29, of Knights Close, Screveton, harassed the receptionist, who previously worked at the same practice as him.

Nottingham magistrates heard that he repeatedly sent her text messages, visited her at work, tried to contact her on social media and drove past her home in a neighbouring village.

Mr Mark Luckett, defending, said: “If there is an example of a significant fall from grace, this would be it. He is a man who prior to today has no previous convictions.”

In a victim impact statement read to the court, the woman said Pousada Garcia had completely ruined her life.

“I used to be calm and laid back but now I am a nervous wreck,” she said.

“I am always on edge and terrified that I will see him or that he will contact me.”

She said the ordeal led to her being signed off work and she had panic attacks.

Pousada Garcia was a locum vet at several practices, including Vets For Pets, Netherfield, where the receptionist worked.

Mr Mark Fielding, prosecuting, said Pousada Garcia abused his position of power as he was often the victim’s line manager.

While treating a hamster, Pousada Garcia invited her into the room and indecently exposed himself.

On another occasion, the vet was said to have rubbed the victim’s inner thigh.

'Sustained period of ongoing harm'

She initially reported the behaviour to the police in December, 2015, when Pousada Garcia had returned to his home country, Spain, from where he rang the victim.

Pousada Garcia texted the victim while she was on holiday with her boyfriend, saying he knew where she lived.

It was later discovered the vet had searched the staff database at the practice to find her address.

He was told by police his behaviour was not acceptable and warned not to contact her.

When the receptionist went on her social media accounts to collect evidence for the police, she discovered Pousada Garcia had moved to Screveton, despite then working in Worksop, around 30 miles away.

“He moved to Knight’s Close, Screveton, I say, with a view to continue his harassment of her,” said Mr Fielding.

“He obviously realised that to get from the A46 to Screveton he drove past her front door.

“That’s what he started doing daily — driving past her house to stare at her.”

A PCSO saw Pousada Garcia driving slowly past his victim’s house, which led to him being arrested and charged.

Pousada Garcia admitted harassing the woman between September 30 and December 27 last year.

He had been due to face trial for stalking but the prosecution agreed to offer no evidence.

Presiding magistrate Mr Vale Humble sentenced Pousada Garcia to six weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and placed him under a restraining order.

Mr Humble said: “We have been very concerned about the sustained period of ongoing harm, with offensive texts, that has been done to [the victim].”

Mr Humble ordered Pousada Garcia to pay his victim £1,000 compensation and £415 costs.