Stalkers and their Victims speak out on Australian TV

John stalked his ex-partner after they separated. He says he was constantly trying to find her and called her around 30 times a day. James has breached intervention orders by repeatedly contacting and seeing his children and ex-partner.

John and James join experts and victims of stalking on the next episode of the Insight program on SBS ONE.

Those accused of stalking tell host Jenny Brockie what they do and why they do it – some are remorseful; others aren’t. They are joined on Insight by guests who share their intensely personal accounts of being stalked by former partners and aggrieved clients.

Audrey is being stalked by a man she had a brief relationship with decades ago. She found out he had installed a remote access camera in her computer and stolen her personal files. He was charged with stalking and ordered to stay away. But Audrey says her life is still being interfered with.

Nanette was stalked by a former partner who eventually entered her home, cut her face and beat her so badly she nearly died. “I lost my home, I lost my identity and had to have my name changed.”

Nanette says despite a restraining order, police didn’t take her reports of stalking seriously. Police later made a training video featuring Nanette’s story to teach police officers how to better handle such cases.

Psychologists and police also weigh in to explore the definition of stalking, whether the laws are strict enough and whether stalkers can be reformed.

Dr Troy McEwan is a Clinical Forensic Psychologist who treats stalkers. Troy says stalkers fall into five types. She defines stalking as repeated, unwanted contact that induces fear, stress or anxiety. She is a Research Fellow at Monash University.

John sort help and through counselling and men’s behavioural change courses, John can now reflect on his past stalking and has come to understand he was scaring his ex-partner further away.

As for James, he has served several prison sentences for stalking. Even though stalking is a criminal offence in every Australian state and territory, James still feels he has done nothing wrong.

The Insight program on stalking will air in Australia at 8:30pm on Tuesday, 16th July 2013 on SBS One.

Insight is hosted by Gold Walkley Award-winning journalist Jenny Brockie and airs every Tuesday at 8.30pm on SBS ONE. The discussion continues online each week at sbs.com.au/insight, and on Twitter using the hash-tag #insightSBS