Stalker terrorises ex-partner with ‘suffocating’ and ‘terrifying’ behaviour calling her 160 times in 24hrs

A 43-year-old Albany man terrorised his ex-partner by calling her 160 times in less than 24 hours while on a violence restraining order. Mark Reihia Fisher appeared in the Albany District Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to stalking his ex-partner in what the judge described as “suffocating” and “terrifying” behaviour. On December 16, 2019, Fisher’s ex-partner found 93 missed calls from him on her mobile phone. His behaviour escalated until December 28 and 29, when he called the victim’s mobile about 160 times. Fisher also pleaded guilty to damaging a door at her property which he was forbidden to visit. State prosecutor Jehna Winter told the court the victim and offender were in a relationship for 12 months from August 2018. Fisher was issued a violence restraining order on September 19 which forbade him from attempting to contact the victim or approaching within 10m of her house. Ms Winter told the court that about 1am on November 29, 2019, Fisher sent three offensive text messages to the victim, including two which stated: “Hurry up and die”. Throughout December, Fisher continued to send her text messages and call her. Some messages referred to shooting himself — and police officers. Ms Winter told the court that about 8.55am on December 21, Fisher turned up at the victim’s house in Albany. “The victim told him to, “F... off,” through her front door,” Ms Winter said. “The offender then climbed into the rear yard and gained entry to the house through a bedroom window.” Fisher attended her house again the next morning, damaging a rear door and prompting her to run from the house and hide. Police arrested Fisher at his house on December 29 — and he has been in custody since then. The New Zealander moved to Australia in 1996 where he found work as a shearer in the Great Southern and Mid West regions. Defence counsel Elizabeth Hamilton acknowledged her client’s behaviour was “overwhelming” and a “very serious example of an aggravated stalking charge”. Ms Hamilton said his actions were triggered by factors including a toxic relationship and meth use. Judge Ronald Birmingham said the stalking was “extremely damaging” and “in every sense of the word, oppressive”. He issued Fisher a lifetime restraining order against the victim. “Offending of the kind you engaged in is designed to terrorise somebody who had, effectively, just wanted to cease the relationship,” Mr Birmingham said. Fisher was sentenced to two years and six months imprisonment, backdated to December 29, 2019.