Postman faces jail for stalking South Norwood woman

EXCLUSIVE

By Anna Edwards

A postman faces a jail term after he stalked an estate agent - sending her flowers, letters, a bag of presents and a compilation CD.

Connal Rosario spent 17 months pursuing pregnant Jodie McVeigh, despite her telling him to leave her alone.

The 42-year-old dad ignored her pleas but it was claimed this week he merely got "the wrong end of the stick."

He pleaded guilty to harassment at Croydon Magistrates' Court last Monday and was told he could be given a custodial sentence.

Caroline Millman, prosecuting, told the court the pair met three years ago when Rosario delivered parcels to Ms McVeigh's workplace, Jukes Estate Agents in South Norwood.

They would occasionally chat, but despite their longest conversation only lasting two minutes, Rosario became convinced they would end up in a relationship together.

The infatuated postman pursued her between February 2007 this July 2008 inviting her on trips to the coast and asking her out to lunch.

The court heard a frightened Ms McVeigh said she "would never go out with him if he was the last person on the planet."

Ms McVeigh reported Rosario to the police in July and officers warned him to stop contacting her.

She told police she saw him as a "sad figure" and "felt some sympathy for him" but he persisted with the harassment, telling her "he would wait for her."

Dale Brook, defending, explained that Rosario had become "stressed and damaged" after having problems visiting his 11-year-old son in Eastbourne, who he has access to.

He insisted Rosario, who has no previous convictions, had found comfort in Ms McVeigh's friendliness and had never intended to harm her.

He said: "He developed an affection for her at a time in his life when he was at a particularly low ebb and he felt vulnerable.

"It's a sad case where a man got the wrong end of the stick, and rather than walk away thought he had done something wrong and was trying in his letters to make up for that.

"He thought he wasn't showing her enough attention and wrote her letters saying 'sorry, you're a very nice lady'.

"As a result of this he's had to go through the criminal justice system, he's learnt a very painful lesson."

The case was adjourned for pre-sentence reports, and Rosario will be sentenced on December 15.

Chair of magistrates Ian McNeil warned the defendant: "The victim's anguish is considerable. We consider this could lead to a custodial sentence."