Stalking & Intimidation Criminal Lawyers in NSW

An individual can be charged with stalking and/or intimidation. A person who stalks or intimidates another person with the intention of causing the other person to fear physical or mental harm is guilty of an offence.

Stalking and Intimidation Lawyers in NSW

Our Criminal Law Team can assist you with matters related to stalking and intimidation, we have the experience and expertise necessary to ensure you receive the best possible outcome.

We’ve been defending the people of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Central Coast and the Hunter region since 1969 and have helped our clients to achieve the best possible outcomes in all Criminal Law matters.

We are used to dealing with the Police and know all the ‘ins and outs’ of the Courts and Justice system.

If you have been charged with stalking or intimidation, contact our Criminal Law Team today to book a teleconference or appointment. We’ll fight vigorously to protect your freedom and rights.

Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve answered the most frequently asked questions about stalking and intimidation below:

What is stalking and what must the prosecution prove?

Stalking is defined under section 8 of the Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007. Stalking involves:

following a person; or watching a person; or approaching a person;
at their place of residence, business or work, or at a place that a person frequents for the purposes of any social or leisure activity.

For the purpose of determining whether a person’s conduct amounts to stalking, a court may have regard to any pattern of violence (especially violence constituting a domestic violence offence) in the person’s behaviour.

Stalking can include the regular mailing of gifts or letters to another person, in situations whereby the recipient of those gifts or letters would not want to receive them.

Stalking can also include repeated attempts to communicate with a person, in situations whereby the recipient of the attempted communication has not responded to any of the attempts and/or would not want to respond. For example, sending someone a private Facebook messages or constant SMS communications.

What is intimidation and what must the prosecution prove?

Intimidation is defined under section 7 of the Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007. Intimidation involves:

conduct amounting to harassment or molestation of the person; or
an approach made to the person by any means (including by telephone, telephone text messaging, e-mailing and other technologically assisted means) that causes the person to fear for his or her safety; or
any conduct that causes a reasonable apprehension of injury to a person or to a person with whom he or she has a domestic relationship, or of violence or damage to any person or property.

For the purpose of determining whether a person’s conduct amounts to intimidation, a court may have regard to any pattern of violence (especially violence constituting a domestic violence offence) in the person’s behaviour.

Does the other person have to be fearful for stalking and intimidation to have occurred?

No.

It is sufficient for the prosecution to prove that a person knew that their conduct was likely to cause fear in the other person.

The prosecution is not required to prove that the person alleged to have been stalked or intimidated actually feared physical or mental harm.

A person causing another to fear physical or mental harm includes causing a person to fear physical or mental harm to another person with whom he or she has a domestic relationship.

A person who attempts to commit an offence of stalking or intimidation is guilty of an offence and the same penalties apply as if the offence had been committed.