A former TV information anchor advised a courtroom her “obsessed” subsequent door neighbour “terrorised” her so badly she has needed to transfer out of her own residence.
Isla Traquair suffered panic assaults because of the attentions of Jonathan Barrett, who allegedly appeared at her conservatory window at 7am as she was about to undress and on one other event “chainsawed” a bush in her backyard.
The ex- ITV Information and Channel 5 Information presenter turned afraid of “bizarre” Barrett, who shocked her quickly after she moved in by climbing a wall into her backyard and coming into her home to supply her a sandwich, the courtroom heard. It was additionally alleged he would stand outdoors and stare into the bed room window of her idyllic 1700s nation cottage, on the sting of the Cotswolds.
The 42-year-old journalist turned so fearful she spent 1000's of kilos fortifying her house with fences and safety cameras earlier than fleeing. She has not returned in virtually a yr.
Isla, initially from Aberdeen, just lately labored on the Oprah Winfrey Community within the US and launched a real crime podcast The Storyteller: Violent Delights.
Her appointment as 7pm information anchor at Channel 5 in 2008 sparked an age discrimination declare by Selina Scott. Ms Scott reportedly gained £250,000 when she was lined up for maternity cowl of Natasha Kaplinsky earlier than the youthful, “glamorous” Isla acquired the job as an alternative.
Magistrates heard 53-year-old Barrett “terrorised” Isla between March and September 2021, starting as quickly as she moved into the home close to the small Wiltshire city of Corsham.
Isla advised the courtroom: “It has affected each a part of my life. I can’t stay in my house, I've had to stick with associates on their couches. I've had nightmares, it’s affected my relationships. After I was in the home, I barely went out in any respect as a result of I used to be scared I'd see him.
“I've panic assaults, I'd wake in the midst of the night time. Even when I noticed a white van, as a result of that’s what he drives, that will set me off. It breaks my coronary heart I can’t stay in my own residence.”
In July, Isla mentioned she even seen Barrett following her in his van whereas she was driving house. In an effort to keep away from arriving on the identical time so she wouldn't have to talk to him, she drove to a close-by farm store however mentioned Barrett adopted her.
She mentioned she waited within the automobile park however Barrett additionally stayed in his automobile. When she began her automobile once more, she mentioned he “shot off” right away.
Barrett was arrested and launched by police however three days later, safety digital camera footage confirmed him strolling across the entrance of her house in his dressing robe and taking footage, the courtroom heard.
The “final straw” got here in September. Isla mentioned: “It was the night, it was darkish and I turned conscious of banging noises upstairs on the outside wall.
"I used to be scared. I phoned my good friend, her husband got here to select me up and I simply left. That was the final time I stayed in my home.”
Barrett denies one cost of stalking. The trial continues.
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