Not Taking 'No' For An Answer

Recorder Jas Jandu also issued a ten year restraining order and said that Paul could face deportation after the defendant admitted stalking involving serious alarm or distress.

Asish Jose Paul, 26, was warned to stay away from Lutaruta Masiulonyte after he spent six months between July 7 and December 30 last year pestering his former co-worker, showering her with gifts when she blocked his number. The accountancy student, originally from Kerala, India, was given police bail on his arrest and warned not to go back to the zoo. But he returned the very next day to speak with Ms Masiulonyte. Jose Paul was then re-arrested, charged with stalking and given bail magistrates with conditions not to enter the Borough of Westminster or contact the complainant. The stalker headed straight back to the zoo, however, and was arrested once again. He was again bailed with a condition not to go within 50 metres of London Zoo but visited the tourist attraction once more, explaining to Royal Park attendants that he was 'in love' with his former colleague.

Despite clear evidence that he ignored all the bail conditions and warnings, the justice system simply kept imposing them...what an exercise in futility. 

Not much there for his defence to work with, so she tried the novel approach of 'Look, there are far worse crimes committed by others':

But Georgina Lane, defending said: 'There is no evidence that very serious distress was caused. 'I am not diminishing the level of distress that was caused, but when one considers the array of offences that come before this court, including violence and threats, very serious distress was not caused.

 Followed by a demand for leniency on the basis 'he'd mad, not bad'::

'The defendant's responsibility is substantially reduced due to a mental disorder and learning disabilities.

'He has suffered a lot in prison and he has learned his lesson. Perhaps it took for him to be remanded in custody for it to hit home for Mr Paul.

'He completed a degree in business administration in India, and he obtained a masters degree in accounting and finance. He has good future career prospects and he hopes to obtain a job as a financial analyst.'

Perhaps he can go work for the Treasury, if - as expected - the Home Office fails to boot him back to India...