'Supermarket' stalker given community service

Sep 3 2010 by Lorraine Howard, Irvine Herald

A STALKER who tracked three women after becoming obsessed with them has avoided a jail sentence.

Noel McWhinnie’s victims included the sister of an ex-lover and the hairdresser who gave him his regular trim.

The married dad-of-two also prowled after a shopworker after becoming infatuated with her at a supermarket.

McWhinnie, 52, admitted three charges of breach of the peace in Asda at Irvine's Rivergate centre, Ardrossan Road and Hamilton Street Saltcoats, Asda in Ardrossan and the town's Glasgow Road and TK Maxx at Glencairn retail park in Kilmarnock, between January 2006 and February 2010.

Kilmarnock Sheriff Court heard he repeatedly followed, harassed and stared at the women in their 20s on various occasions, placing them in fear and alarm.

A further charge of stalking a fourth alleged victim was dropped when he agreed to plead guilty to the other offences.

Gordon Ghee, defending, said: “He can offer no explanation for his actions and has expressed his regret and remorse.”

McWhinnie, of Montfode Drive, Ardrossan, who was a technician at Hunterston nuclear power station for 18 years, was given a year's probation and 125 hours’ community service.