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The Telegraph
The Telegraph
National
Telegraph reporters

Former civil servant convicted of stalking ex-colleague after camping outside Whitehall with 'waiting for my Wilko' placard

Ray Israel-Wilkinson has been convicted of stalking an ex-colleague - Central News
Ray Israel-Wilkinson has been convicted of stalking an ex-colleague - Central News

A former civil servant has been convicted of stalking an ex-colleague after camping outside his office on Whitehall with a “waiting for my Wilko” placard.

Economist Ray Israel-Wilkinson, 33, declared her love for Alex Wilkinson after working with him at the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS).

Prosecutor Jennifer Gatland said she changed her name to give the impression they were married and posted 104 love songs dedicated to Mr Wilkinson on social media.

Ms Gatland described how Israel-Wilkinson sat outside the department's Parliament Street office on May 27 last year with a placard which said: “This is not a protest. Waiting for my Wilko.”

Ms Gatland said: “This caused significant distress for Mr Wilkinson who had to change his routine, entrances and so forth.

“The defendant has also created social media pages claiming they are married and declaring her love for him.

“It seems she has also changed her name from Rayner Sultan to Ray-Israel-Wilkinson to give the impression they are married.”

Alex Wilkinson was bombarded with messages by Ray Israel-Wilkinson for more than four months last year - Central News
Alex Wilkinson was bombarded with messages by Ray Israel-Wilkinson for more than four months last year - Central News

'I felt quite violated' 

Mr Wilkinson, a Deputy Director for Analysis, told Westminster Magistrates' Court she began to contact him shortly after leaving the department and insisted on meeting with him face-to-face.

“I wasn't comfortable because we didn't have any meaningful relationship,” said Mr Wilkinson.

“She is a former colleague. I felt quite violated. She was writing about how she was in love with me and insinuating that we'd had some romantic connection when we hadn't.”

Israel-Wilkinson was arrested for harassing Mr Wilkinson but continued to sit outside the office despite bail conditions prohibiting her.

In August 2021 she was sectioned and taken to hospital where she continued to email Mr Wilkinson.

Israel-Wilkinson, of Milton Keynes, denied stalking Mr Wilkinson, between June 16 2021 and October 20 2021.

She did not attend her trial and was convicted in her absence by District Judge Timothy Godfrey who issued a warrant for her arrest.

He said: “It is plain to me that Mr Wilkinson's reaction to the unwarranted attention has principally been concern for her welfare and mental health.

“It is also apparent that the defendant's stalking behaviour has ground Mr Wilkinson down and has had an impact on him emotionally.”

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