A SERIAL stalker who has been banned from contacting every woman in Scotland was jailed for four months yesterday.
Robert Basterfield, 34, admitted terrifying two strangers by following them in separate incidents.
Perth Sheriff Court was told that Basterfield posed a "very high risk" of reoffending against women and had shown no remorse for his crimes.
Last week, Tayside Police chief constable John Vine was granted an interim interdict banning Basterfield from having contact with any lone female. The order was granted after Mr Vine told the court Basterfield was "capable of using extreme violence".
Yesterday, he was jailed for stalking Spanish barmaid Maria Dominguez while he was on bail and awaiting sentence for an identical incident.
Sheriff Michael Fletcher said: "His attitude to women, and in particular strangers, has got to change. I don't think he is treating it seriously."
He added: "I think it is a serious matter. The second offence was committed while you were on a deferred sentence for a very similar offence and while the court was deliberately monitoring your behaviour. Reports from the social workers, psychiatrist and psychologists all indicate that you are at a very high risk of reoffending and all said you gave the impression you thought you had not done anything wrong."
He said he would have jailed Basterfield for six months, but reduced it to four because he pled guilty. He backdated it to July 20 to account for time he had spent in custody. Effectively, Basterfield will be back on the streets by mid-September.
The sentence was criticised by local MSP Roseanna Cunningham. She said: "I imagine that this man's victims will think that a four-month sentence is hardly sufficient. I have to say I share that feeling and I am sure . . . the public will too."
Basterfield admitted stalking Miss Dominguez on February 18 this year by following her through a park late at night.
Basterfield admitted breaching the peace by stalking Miss Rodriguez while on bail and told the police his actions had been "sexually motivated".
He was on bail after admitting stalking Victoria Keiro, who lived near his then home in Bridge of Earn, Perthshire, in autumn 2004.
Basterfield was also sentenced for that offence yesterday, with Sheriff Fletcher deferring his decision until November 22.
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