Bushey man jailed for harassment

A Bushey man who harassed a woman from a neighbouring block of flats was jailed for 4 months today. Patrick Duggan, 61, had a restraining order made against him last November banning him from contacting Emma Mitchell after she had gone to court to complain about his behaviour. Ms Mitchell, 35, was at home in Sparrow Hearne, Bushey, between 7pm and 8pm on Saturday December 20.  She was doing DIY on the floor in her one bed flat when her dog barked, St Albans crown court heard. Giving evidence behind a screen, she told a jury of seven men and five women she saw mail come through the door and looked through the spy hole to see Mr Duggan. “He was a few feet away. He was going to the stairs. I am very certain it was him. It was fully lit and I have perfect eyesight.” She said she recognised Mr Duggan’s handwriting on an envelope on which he had written: “I am sorry I opened this by mistake. It is yours.” Inside was a Christmas card to her from a friend. Ms Mitchell went on: “I was upset. I believed he was not allowed to come to my address. I couldn’t believe he would have the audacity to come to my address.” “It was intimidating. I thought he had to adhere to the order. That is my home.” For more on this read the next edition of My Bushey News out on June 26. Picture courtesy of Italiaander Photography (www.italiaander.co.uk)