Woman stalked in Southern Iceland after reporting sexual offenses against man

A woman in Southern Iceland has reported that she has had to move six times in eleven months to escape a man who has allegedly stalked her, following her report of sexual offenses against him. Despite her complaints and a restraining order against him, she claims he consistently locates her.

The man has reportedly confessed to considering blowing up her car. Last week, the Land’s Court upheld another restraining order against him. The background of the case reveals that the woman initially reported his threatening behavior in October 2022, but the police dismissed her case at that time, rejecting her request for a restraining order.

In January of last year, she lodged additional complaints about recurring sexual offenses, including the distribution of a video showing her naked. The woman described ongoing harassment, defamation, threats, and intimidation, particularly related to the aforementioned video, as well as threats to share more intimate footage with her parents.

Subsequent investigations by the police led to the man being placed under a restraining order. By June of this year, the woman reported further incidents involving property damage and harassment, including graffiti with defamatory comments on the wall, persistent stalking, and vandalism to her car.

Although the man denied the allegations during questioning, he admitted to having provoked her once. He also rejected the terms of a proposed agreement meant to prevent further harassment, suggesting instead that she should be placed under a restraining order against him.

Despite the police’s initial decision to refuse an ongoing restraining order, this was reversed following an appeal from the Prosecutor General. The court ultimately sided with the woman, affirming the restraining order amid ongoing investigations into her allegations against him.