A 47-year-old woman from Hove has been convicted of stalking and harassment offences against three separate individuals.
Anne Marie Hughes was found guilty at Brighton Magistrates’ Court following a four-day trial.
The offences involved her former neighbour Elizabeth Chadsey, former friend Shanti Wakefield, and Lisa Sayers.
Hughes sent approximately 2,000 messages to Ms Sayers through online platforms and directed a sustained campaign of harassment at Ms Wakefield and Ms Chadsey over an extended period.
The case originated from an incident at a Brighton Marina establishment in May of the previous year.
A manager employed at the venue made a remark that Hughes considered discriminatory.
She subsequently contacted Ms Chadsey seeking support, but Ms Chadsey declined to provide it.
Hughes then sent her former neighbour roughly 25 messages before being blocked.
Ms Chadsey, who has since returned to Canada, had witnessed the comment being made.
Hughes threatened her with deportation and eviction while also alleging she had smuggled drugs into the country.
The court heard that Hughes contacted a musician connected to Ms Chadsey to make further allegations against her.
Additional claims included accusations that Ms Chadsey suffered from an eating disorder and engaged in self-harm.
Hughes also reached out to Ms Chadsey’s father.
Ms Wakefield told the court she received more than 170 messages from Hughes within a two-day span.
Hughes also contacted her workplace.
Ms Wakefield stated that Hughes had presented herself as her legal representative, which was inaccurate.
Hughes referred to Ms Chadsey, Ms Wakefield, and others as participants in a harmful communication group, applying the label ‘Baby Reindeer’ – a term taken from a streaming series depicting a character’s obsessive behaviour toward another individual.
Ms Sayers, who has bipolar disorder, was subjected to around 2,000 online messages from Hughes in connection with a dispute involving their mutual acquaintance Julieanne Gilburt, proprietor of Whitecliffs Cafe.
Ms Sayers stated that Hughes portrayed her as mentally unstable.
Hughes questioned whether Ms Sayers had met her spouse at a psychiatric facility in Hove and commented on her medication regimen.
She directed further abuse toward Ms Sayers’ family members.
During proceedings, the manager involved acknowledged making the comment but clarified it was not directed at Hughes.
He also referenced contentious exchanges between himself and Hughes.
Hughes maintained that her conduct constituted a defensive response to deliberate provocation.
She acknowledged poor reactions but attributed these to external stresses and others’ actions.
She claimed victims were intentionally provoking her and subjecting her to collective harassment.
The defendant stated she had never engaged in stalking behaviour.
District Judge Murry rejected the characterisation of Hughes as a target of coordinated attacks.
Hughes was convicted of one charge of stalking and two counts of harassment without violence.
Sentencing has been scheduled for Brighton Magistrates’ Court in December.