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ITN newsreader Isla Traquair fought back tears during Monday’s This Morning as she opened up on her devastating experiences with stalking after her neighbour Jonathan Barrett was convicted last week.
The 42-year-old broadcaster had an offer accepted on her dream home in the Cotswolds in October 2020, but was ‘terrorised’ by the 53-year-old man between March and September last year.
Barrett was convicted of stalking at Salisbury Magistrates Court on Thursday, and had handed an immediate restraining order banning him from contacting her – as well as entering or looking into her property – for one year.
He will be sentenced this month.
Discussing what she’s been through to presenters Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond, she fought back tears and said: ‘It was breaking me – inside as a person, it was destroying me. Anxiety, panic attacks, sleepless nights. It’s ruined my life.’
Isla – who temporarily moved to America to live with her brother – revealed she was advised to leave her home by police, stalking experts and psychologists.
‘I’ve already reported an alleged breach of his restraining order the day after he was given it last Thursday,’ the journalist said, while she admitted to still struggling after his conviction.
She added: ‘Yeah, yeah I’m still – I had two hours sleep last night, I was anxious about coming on. I’ve never talked about my personal life, being a victim is not something I enjoy. I’m speaking purely to raise awareness that this is something that isn’t taken seriously by the police.’
Alicia Doble, prosecuting, previously told the court during a three day trial: ‘[Ms Traquair] is a journalist, a relatively well known journalist, and it seems when she moved in Mr Barrett took an interest in her and in her life.
‘He admits to looking her up when she moved in and seemed to know facts about her she didn’t tell him.
‘Over the coming months he became obsessed with her. He would loiter outside her house, look through windows, stand on her wall and look into her conservatory.’
Barrett denied stalking or harassing Traquair, and insisted his interest in her wasn’t abnormal, while he will be sentenced at Salisbury Magistrates Court on August 18 – although Isla isn’t expecting to be satisfied by the outcome.
She said: ‘We have to wait for sentencing… The maximum he can get is 6 months and I really don’t believe that’s what’s going to happen.’
Hammond read out two statements on the show, first from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) which said: ‘We understand how traumatic stalking can be for victims.
‘We know the criminal justice system can also be a challenging experience for those affected. The defendant was successfully convicted, and we are committed to securing justice for those cases where our legal test is met.’
And Wiltshire Police added: ‘We take all reports of stalking and harassment incredibly seriously, and would always encourage victims to come forward.’
This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV.
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