A MAN has been given a court order to leave a school bus driver alone, after she was left feeling “extremely anxious” by his behaviour.

Michael Paley, 57, of Salthouse Road, Millom, repeatedly attended the woman’s place of work and took photos of the bus she drives for work, over a month-long period.

An application for a stalking protection order put forward by Cumbria Police, was heard at Workington Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Paley, who initially refused to enter the dock, said: “I’m not really a defendant. It isolates me from proceedings. I will be putting a formal complaint in about a lot of this today.

“There’s no table to put my drink on. There are no facilities in here.”

Gail Herd, for Cumbria Constabulary, said Paley had carried out acts associated with stalking and it was appropriate to make an order.

Ms Herd said it was a civil protective order, not to criminalise him but to protect the woman before the full evidence can be heard.

She said the victim was a woman who drives a school bus in Millom. The woman contacted police on February 14 and described a series of events which began on January 12.

Ms Herd said Paley had an interest in the signage of the bus. It was agreed with the owner of Ricky’s Travel that Paley would assist with the setting up of the signage on the bus.

The owner of Ricky’s Travel was grateful for that but not what followed, the court heard.

Ms Herd said the first contact the woman had with Paley was on January 12.

Paley approached the school bus when the woman was “alone” and “feeling vulnerable”.

He went round to the side window and argued that he wanted it fully down.

Ms Herd said the woman felt uncomfortable. He was complaining about the signage of the bus to her.

The woman had collected the school children and there had been an exchange between the two. He was photographing the bus.

Ms Herd said Paley would stand on the road on the way to Millom School. He would shake his head at the bus as she passed.

He had also been sitting on a nearby bench when the woman went for fuel at a garage used by the travel company.

On February 14 she discovered there has been a change in the signage to the bus.

The woman collected the school children later that day and there was another meeting with Paley.

She was travelling towards the garage to collect the school children when Paley appeared in the area and took photos of the vehicle.

On the return route, he was still there taking photos of the bus, the court heard.

She later collected her daughter from school and when she arrived at the site where the buses are parked in Millom, she saw Paley leaning on a lamppost, photographing the bus. She was “distressed”.

Ms Herd said the woman opened the door and told Paley to leave her alone but he refused.

He then jumped in front of her and took photos. Colleagues came to her aid and asked him to leave.

He refused to do so and was escorted off the premises.

Ms Herd said the woman felt she had no other option but to report Paley to the police. She was worried for her own safety.

He was arrested the following day on suspicion of stalking. This is still under investigation and Paley has been bailed until May 8, the court was told.

Ms Herd said a number of days after his release on bail, there was a chance meeting at Millom Post Office.

The meeting left the woman “shaking” and she described him as staring at her.

PC Smilie told the court that the woman was “extremely anxious” about seeing Paley.

She said the woman had asked him to stop contacting her but he had continued with that behaviour even when challenged. It was having an impact on her life and work, the court was told.

PC Smilie said the criminal investigation was still ongoing and statements were being taken by police. Paley had not yet been charged.

Ms Herd said: “It’s having a detrimental effect on the person involved. She is deeply affected by this course of behaviour. It’s a course of behaviour she can’t escape from. It’s happening in her employment.”

Ms Herd said it was appropriate to implement the order “purely for protection” of the woman.

Paley, who represented himself at the hearing, said: “I’m the true victim. The reason I’m the victim is the alleged victim has fabricated the bulk of her evidence.

“I see no further need for a stalking protection order at all. I don’t believe there have been any further complaints from the alleged victim.

“If I had known my behaviour was a problem for [the woman], I would have dealt with it sooner.”

Paley denied that he had obstructed the woman’s employment by stepping in front of her vehicle.

He said he had flagged her down “as you would a passing motorist”.

Paley said he had taken a hand-written letter with instructions for the driver on how to use the school bus signs on school runs.

He said: “I explained the situation. I handed her the instructions to change the sign to school bus. I wanted her to learn how to do it.

“I handed her the note to say for school runs, it should be the school bus displayed. She threw the note back out the window. I was at the side window. I was not obstructing her progress.

“You are putting in place a completely unnecessary stalking protection order. The bulk of the evidence is false. It’s based on some fact but the bulk of it is false.

“The number of photos I have taken is two. I have taken two short video clips.

“I looked out to see if she was using the correct sign. On one day, she did have the correct sign, which showed she was capable of changing it.”

In relation to the incident at the Post Office, Paley said he was in a queue with the intention of buying stamps.

He said the woman had her back to him and he had no idea it was her.

Paley told the court: “I know our initial meeting had not gone well because it was rushed. We have not had the chance to discuss properly in a calmer situation.

“People don’t have issues with me. It’s just this one person. I don’t see why I should be penalised when I’m not convicted and I know I won’t be.”

Jennie Wilkinson, chair of the magistrates, said: “You have encountered [the woman] at her place of work and taken photos and videos.

“You had been previously told that your attentions were not wanted. The victim has felt anxious, uncomfortable and harassed.”

Ms Wilkinson said it was appropriate to implement an interim stalking protection order.