Stalker's lone women ban reduced

Police said Basterfield posed a high risk to the public

Police chiefs have cut the period of time they want a convicted stalker to be banned from being alone with women.

Tayside Police wanted Robert Basterfield to be subjected to a 30-year ban, but that has now been reduced to 10.

At Perth Sheriff Court, the force warned that the 35-year-old was a high risk to the public.

Basterfield, who is unemployed and originally from Australia, has two previous stalking convictions.

The court heard that Tayside Police's legal team had reduced the duration of the proposed order by 20 years.

Basterfield, of Perth, was jailed for four months after harassing a Spanish waitress in the town last year.

The former taxi driver is also on probation after he followed a Bridge of Earn woman to her home in 2004 and tried to push his way into her flat.

Such was the concern about his actions, a meeting involving police, social work and housing officials was called last year to discuss a Sexual Offences Protection Order being brought against Basterfield.