Court denies bail to stalker dealt Scotland-wide ban
RHIANNON EDWARD
A STALKER barred from contacting any woman in Scotland has failed in a plea to be released early from a four-month jail sentence.
Robert Basterfield, 34, had his bid to be freed on bail pending an appeal against sentence thrown out at the High Court yesterday.
The bail appeal was rejected after a brief hearing yesterday morning, and Basterfield - who was branded a serious danger to women - will remain behind bars.
He was locked up at the end of last month after he admitted terrifying two strangers by following them in separate incidents.
Perth Sheriff Court was told Basterfield posed a "very high risk" of reoffending against women and showed no remorse for his crimes.
John Vine, Chief Constable of Tayside, was granted an interim interdict banning Basterfield from having contact with any lone female.
The extraordinary order - the first of its kind - was granted after Mr Vine told the court Basterfield was "capable of using extreme violence".
This article: http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1186332006
Last updated: 15-Aug-06 01:54 BST
