Julie Rookes became “fixated” with the man, attending 20 of his fitness classes per week, as well as his home and place of work, York Magistrates’ Court heard.
The 50-year-old declined to comment to The Press as she left the court on Wednesday (March 19) wearing colourful gym leggings, a black jumper and a blue beanie hat.
Katherine Walters, prosecuting, said Rookes, of Osbaldwick Lane, started attending the man’s classes online during the pandemic, then in person after restrictions were lifted.
The personal trainer suffered with stress due to the stalking which impacted his health, the hearing was told.
He worked at several gyms in the York area and Rookes would travel to the different locations for his classes, sometimes making a 40-mile round trip to do so.
The court heard that Rookes spent about £4,000 on the classes.
Rookes denied a charge of stalking involving serious alarm or distress but was convicted after a trial on February 17.
District judge Adrian Lower said Rookes “became obsessed” with the personal trainer but “there is no suggestion that this was a sexual obsession”.
The personal trainer moved his classes to other gyms “in part because of unwanted attention from you”, the judge told Rookes.
But she continued to attend them.
The personal trainer blocked Rookes from attending his classes, Ms Walters said.
Rookes was “escorted out” of a class the personal trainer was taking after he had raised concern about her attendance, the court heard.
After doing so, Rookes went into the gym’s car park and parked behind the personal trainer’s vehicle.
Judge Lower, after hearing the details of the case, said: “It all becomes a flavour of rather obsessive behaviour.”
He added: “I think it is fair to say that going to someone’s home address when there is a professional relationship and nothing more rather tips the balance.”
The hearing heard that the personal trainer was not home when Rookes attended his address.
A ‘sad case’, says judge
Judge Lower told Rookes it was a “sad case” as she was previously a “good character” with no previous convictions.
He said references read during the trial “all speak of a rather different person”.
The stalking lasted between May 2022 and February 2023 which meant Rookes “could easily” have been sent to prison, the judge said.
He added that the personal trainer may now feel as though he must “look over his shoulder to make sure Ms Rookes is nowhere near him”.
But the judge said sending Rookes to prison would have little impact as she “would not go to prison for very long”.
He added that the pressures facing the prison service would mean staff were unlikely “to do any meaningful work with her”.
The judge passed a 12-month community order with 120 hours of unpaid work and 20 days of rehabilitation activity.
He imposed a five-year restraining order, meaning Rookes cannot contact the personal trainer.
The judge also ordered Rookes to pay a £114 victim surcharge and £620 in prosecution costs.
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