Isle of Wight man harassed Tinder date after being rejected

Simon North, of Shore Road in Bonchurch, attended the IW Magistrates’ Court for sentencing on Friday, November 8.

The 50-year-old had previously pleaded guilty to harassment without violence between March 24 and April 7.

Lauren McConnell, prosecuting, said North matched with his victim on the Tinder dating app on March 15, and the pair met up on several occasions.

The IW Law Courts, and the tinder app (Image: IWCP) However, after just over a week, the woman started to have doubts about a relationship, so she stopped messaging him as much, Ms McConnell told the court.

North asked to see her twice during the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend and the woman told him things were going too fast.

Ms McConnell said following this, North sent the woman a flurry of unwanted messages, including “I would have treated you like a queen.”

The court heard that she did not initially respond to the messages but later asked him to stop, eventually deciding to block him when he continued regardless.

North found the woman on Facebook and started messaging her again, even sending her a song, which she ignored and blocked, said Ms McConnell.

The woman’s daughter later messaged her to call the police because North had turned up at their home with flowers and a card that read: “Sorry for whatever I did,” the court was told.

Ms McConnell said North was handed a 12-month community order shortly after being charged for this offence - for harassing his ex-girlfriend with around 200 unsolicited messages in 2023.

Barry Keel, defending, said his client took the rejection very poorly and now accepts that he acted inappropriately. 

Magistrates said North caused his victim “unneeded stress” but commended him on keeping to his bail conditions by not contacting the woman.

North was handed another 12-month community order to include 75 hours of unpaid work and 25 rehabilitation days.

He was also made subject to a restraining order and ordered to pay a £114 surcharge and £85 in costs.