A woman has received a restraining order after harassing a former friend who she claims had been 'slagging me off on GMTV'.
Tracey Hendrie was friends with her victim for roughly 12 years before she began to harass her in a series of incidents. Eventually, she ended up scratching her car, resulting in hundreds of pounds worth of damage.
Teeside Live reports that the 50-year-old was said to have become 'irrational and paranoid', even falsely believing that her friend was hacking her Facebook account and slamming her on breakfast television. On one occasion, the woman turned up to her victim's house at 3.30am and began hurling abuse and banging on the windows, Teesside Magistrates' Court heard.
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Prosecutor Chris Tame said that Hendrie had previously received support from her victim which extended to accommodation and finances, while the pair's daughters were also friends. However, in December 2021, the relationship turned sour.
No reason was provided for why Hendrie had become upset with her former friend, who she alleged had been 'inappropriately involving herself' in the other's personal affairs. Hendrie showed up to the victim's house in Saltburn on several occasions before things came to a head on June 14 last year.
Hendrie arrived at the property at 5am and was banging on her kitchen window, shouting: "Get out here and face me - when is this going to stop?" She proceeded to hurl obscene abuse before scratching the woman's car, causing £350 worth of damage.
The court heard how Hendrie was acting out of character and had no prior criminal convictions. In a statement, her victim spoke of the distress the harassment had caused.
She said: "This has felt like an invasion upon me and my home. I would like to know why she forced her anger on me and my family. I do wish the defendant well but no longer want anything to do with her."
Colin Sleeman, representing Hendrie, said Hendrie had initially visited the woman's home and been civil in an attempt to discuss the issues between them but admitted that she had become angry and frustrated on later visits. He added that there had been no further contact between the pair since June.
Hendrie, of Station Road, Redcar, admitted harassment between December 1, 2021, and June 14, 2022, and criminal damage on June 14.
Magistrates sentenced Hendrie to a 12 month community order and 40 hours unpaid work. She was also order to pay £350 compensation and given an 18 month restraining order.
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