A town’s mayor was convicted of stalking yesterday after penning unwanted love letters to a barmaid he’d become infatuated with – but accidentally sending them to the wrong woman.
Police were left in no doubt who they were from as Graham Roberts, 72, included his business card, confirming him as first citizen of Whitehaven, Cumbria.
The woman who received the letters took them to the police and Roberts – who describes himself as a lifelong Conservative – was arrested at his home in the town.
He attended Workington magistrates court in a black pin-stripe suit and white fedora yesterday to admit stalking without causing fear and will be sentenced next month
Pamela Fee, prosecuting, said a woman attended Whitehaven Police Station with letters she had been receiving to her home address but didn’t know who they were from.
The woman then went back to police on September 12 last year with further letters which were unopened.
When officers opened the letters they read one which stated that he loved her, that she was his ‘soulmate’ and there was £40 in cash inside, along with a business card with the name Graham Roberts.
Following a police investigation, Roberts was interviewed and accepted that he had been sending letters to a younger woman who he believed worked at a pub in Whitehaven.
Mayor of Whitehaven Graham Roberts, 72, posted a series of love letters after becoming infatuated with a local barmaid saying he loved her and that she was his ‘soulmate’ – only to send them to the wrong woman, leaving her fearful that someone was watching her
Graham Roberts, 72, mayor of the Cumbrian port of Whitehaven (pictured), sent letters to a local barmaid saying he wanted to be with her to ‘love and protect’ her – but posted them to the wrong woman
But the woman who was sent the letters had never worked at the pub, Ms Fee said.
She added that Roberts got the information for the ‘intended target’ from the electoral roll, using his position as mayor, but got the wrong address.
Roberts’ letter said he loved the pub worker adding he wanted to be with her to ‘love and protect’ her.
The court heard he also made comments about things she had worn.
The woman who was the intended recipient of the letters told police that Roberts is a regular in the pub and described him as ‘part of the furniture’ who would follow her around and try to engage her in conversation.
She said she would speak back in a friendly way but his behaviour ‘seemed strange’ and was ‘very different’ when she was alone compared to when she was with her boyfriend or male friends.
Ms Fee said Roberts accepted he had sent the letters and obtained the information about where he believed she was living.
He claimed he was in love with her and made full admissions to his behaviour.
Graham Roberts, 72, said he would be ‘stepping back for a short’ from his role as mayor of the Cumbrian maritime port of Whitehaven ‘due to health problems’ after first being accused of stalking a local woman
The woman mistakenly sent letters by Graham Roberts, 72, mayor of the Cumbrian port of Whitehaven (pictured), saying she was his ‘soulmate’, stopped going out running at night because she was scared someone was watching or following her, a court heard
The prosecution said there was cause for concern for both the woman who received the letters and the intended victim.
The woman who received the letters had stopped running at night because she was scared someone was watching her or following her and didn’t know where the letters were coming from.
Ms Fee said there was ‘some sophistication’ in finding out the address, adding Roberts ‘used his position’ to get the information from the electoral roll.
Mike Woolaghan, defending, said mitigation would be given in full when Roberts is sentenced.
He said while there had been some planning, it was ‘not especially sophisticated’ but there had been some distress caused to a couple of people.
The case was adjourned to allow Roberts to be assessed for a mental health treatment requirement.
Roberts, of Whitehaven, will be sentenced on May 6.
He was granted bail, with conditions not to contact the two named females, not to go to an address in Whitehaven and not to go to a named pub in Whitehaven.
The barmaid who was the intended recipient of letters from Graham Roberts, 72, told police he was is a regular in the pub where she worked that his behaviour ‘seemed strange’ and was ‘very different’ when she was alone compared to when she was with her boyfriend or male friends, Workington Magistrates Court (pictured) heard
After the offences came to light, Roberts announced he would be ‘stepping back’ from his mayoral role.
In October last year he said: ‘I will be stepping back for a short while from my role as chairman and mayor of the council due to health problems.’
Roberts is still listed as Mayor on the town council website for the Cumbrian maritime port, which is renowned for its Georgian architecture.
Today town clerk Marlene Jewell told Mail Online that Whitehaven Town Council was not making any statement ‘at this time’ in response to his conviction.
