Woman wins restraining order against stranger who stalked for 3 months

Businesswoman wins restraining order against total stranger, 53, who launched bizarre three-month stalking campaign and gave no explanation for her fixation with her

• Lisa Alvarado won a restraining order against admitted stalker Lorraine Massey 
• Massey followed Mrs Alvarado for three months and bombarded her with calls
• When arrested she could give no explanation for her fixation with Mrs Alvarado 

A businesswoman has won a restraining order against a complete stranger who stalked her and bombarded her with silent phone calls for three months.

Lorraine Massey, 53, targeted mother-of-one Lisa Alvarado and inexplicably began calling her and following her around her neighbourhood.

Massey, who is married with children, obtained Mrs Alvarado’s phone number and even found out where her young son attended primary school. 

She would sit in her car outside the school gates and watch Mrs Alvarado as she was doing the school run.

When arrested she could give no explanation for her fixation with Mrs Alvarado. Inquiries revealed she had no previous history of wrongdoing. 

Massey was also ordered to complete a 12 month community order. She will have to complete up to 15 rehabilitation days and 60 hours of unpaid work. 

She was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £140. 

Lisa Alvarado (pictured) has won a restraining order against a complete stranger who stalked her and bombarded her with silent phone calls for three months

Lorraine Massey, 53, (pictured outside Wigan Magistrates Court with her husband) targeted Mrs Alvarado and inexplicably began calling her and following her around her neighbourhood

Massey, of Irlam, was banned from contacting Mrs Alvarado for a year after she admitted stalking her between April and July 2022.

She started making unsolicited calls to Mrs Alvarado on April 20, the court heard. 

‘Initially, the complainant thought the defendant was her friend trying to call her on a different number,’ said Miss Jane Rapin, prosecuting.

‘But the defendant then started to tell the complainant that she needed to speak to her in person about a personal matter, despite the parties not being previously known to each other.’

Mrs Alvarado rejected Massey’s offer and started to ignore her following messages. 

Despite this, Massey continued to contact her, making over 100 calls over the next three months. 

‘Most of the calls were silent and there were also some in which the defendant would call and hang up immediately,’ Miss Rapin said.

‘The defendant also started to message the complaint on WhatsApp and various other social media platforms.’

Police were notified after Mrs Alvarado began to notice a ‘familiar car’ parked outside her son’s school on multiple occasions. 

‘She soon realised that this was the defendant,’ the prosecutor said. ‘She would sit in her parked car and watch her from a distance. 

‘After these incidents, the complainant said that she would then expect more silent calls and texts.’

Massey, who is married with children, obtained Mrs Alvarado’s phone number and even found out where her young son attended primary school. She would sit in her car outside the school gates and watch Mrs Alvarado (pictured) as she was doing the school run

In mitigation, defence lawyer Jonathan Conder said: ‘Let me make it clear that the two parties were not known to each other before this incident. 

‘There was no particular event or meeting between that seems to trigger the defendant’s subsequent behaviour.

‘At the time the defendant was dealing with a number of stressful events in her life and her mental health suffered as a result. 

‘She was also dealing with the death of a relative in the previous year, which had a big impact on her.

‘Her remorse comes across clearly and she is sorry for the impact on the lady concerned. As you also know she gave a guilty plea at the earliest opportunity. 

‘These are really unusual circumstances and she realises that this sort of thing can’t be repeated.’

Massey (pictured with her husband outside the court) told the hearing at Wigan Magistrates Court: ‘If I have caused her any harm I am sorry as it was not my intention’

In a statement Mrs Alvarado, who runs a cupcake manufacturing business and market stall in Partington near Manchester said: ‘My mental health has been really affected by this experience.

‘Since April I have felt awful and always find myself looking for her car wherever I go.

‘When I’m at home I look at the door waiting for her to walk in. Even when I’m at work I fear that she is going to use fake names in an effort to get a hold of me again. Because of this, I am always looking over my shoulder. This has affected every part of my life.’

Massey told the hearing at Wigan Magistrates Court: ‘If I have caused her any harm I am sorry as it was not my intention.’

JP Sara Moreton told her: ‘This sort of behaviour is not only unacceptable but we also see this as quite odd especially as we don’t know if there is something else that has caused this behaviour to arise.

‘We definitely think there is something more at play that has made you act this way and therefore believe that you would benefit by working closely with probation services to build up your thinking skills so this sort of thing doesn’t happen again.

‘You are a lady of previous good character, and what I say to you is this. Don’t let this one incident define your life, just move on because we don’t want to see you back here. ‘

Massey has no previous convictions or cautions. 

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