ALLEGED cyber-stalker Brian Sutcliffe has intensified his campaign to
recover 71 guns police seized in a raid on his Brighton home.
Mr Sutcliffe, the first Australian to be charged with long-distance
stalking, also wants his shooter's licence restored.
He has now taken his fight to the Victorian Civil and Administrative
Tribunal. A hearing has been set down for May 20.
Mr Sutcliffe, 40, sent a toy koala in an ammunition box to Sara
Ballingall, a Canadian TV star he is accused of stalking.
His six-year obsession included setting up an Internet page devoted to
the series, with references to Ballingall, writing almost daily to a web
chat-room about Degrassi and sending daily e-mails to its
producer.
In a letter he even suggested Ballingall sit on a horse with rifle in
hand and dress like Annie Oakley, as well as take her father shooting.
Ballingall complained to Canadian police and stated that Mr Sutcliffe
seemed to be very interested in guns and he was someone who might behave
violently. Soon after, Victoria Police raided Mr Sutcliffe's home.
In July 2000, stalking charges were dismissed in Melbourne Magistrates'
Court because the offence was said to have occurred outside its
jurisdiction.
Police successfully appealed and the case was relisted. Mr Sutcliffe is
now appealing.
Mr Sutcliffe told the Herald Sun last year his attempts to
establish a relationship with Ballingall had been misunderstood, and he
only wanted to be friends. He complained the Ballingalls did not
appreciate his humour.
Last October, the Firearms Appeals Committee found he was not a fit and
proper person to hold a firearms licence. Chairman Lindsay Ford said Mr
Sutcliffe was clearly obsessed with Ballingall beyond the realm of
rationality.
"His behaviour over a long period was such that any reasonable
person would consider him to be seriously disturbed."
In documents submitted to VCAT, Mr Sutcliffe states: "The decision
is wrong - I am not an unfit person - and erred in law on several
matters."
A former accountant, Mr Sutcliffe, is a pensioner who lives with his
mother.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,6076498%255E2862,00.html
