I was stalked by my neighbours ex-husband.

I live in a block of about 100 council flats and have for about 15 years, I'm 35 now. When I was 20 I had a brief friendship with a woman who lived opposite me, let's call her Julie. She was three years older and had moved to our block following a split with her husband. I had just moved back in with my parents after uni, so she was the first person in the block I'd met. She and her son were friendly with us and even once took me to a bar on my 21st birthday and we had a lovely time.<br><br>During one of our chats she warned me to stay away. She said he had been convicted of murdering a girl from his small village. Apparently, she'd rejected him and he got angry. He got a Section 37 hospital order, with restrictions. She'd been told that he'd never be released as long as he lived.<br><br>Fast forward to six years later, one evening my mum called to me, almost screaming. She had her back to me but was staring at something behind me. I turned round and by the window was a man, he was looking through the glass with a big grin on his face. Luckily, the window was closed but, I felt violated and frightened so I called my dad down. He came and chased the guy and ran after him. I watched as he disappeared into a stairwell. My Dad got back and said he had gone into a flat but he didn't know which one. I remember saying to my mum 'that looks like that guy who killed a girl. Do you remember Julie telling me about him?'. She didn't but I knew who he was, it was the same man. The good thing was that our flat is at the top near the stairs and lift in my block. We are one of the nearest to the stairs and no one else has their living room near the stairs so no one else would have seen him. <br><br>I went to Julie's flat and told her about what happened and she was in tears. She didn't know he was out. She said she was told he'd never be released because of the severity of what he'd done and how dangerous he was. She knocked on the door of the neighbouring flat and introduced me to his sister. It turns out he moved in with her the day after he was released. <br><br>I was so scared. I had to live in the same block as a murderer. The guy was in his 50s but he looked young and I don't see how he wasn't a danger to the public. He was fit and lean and there was something scary about him, something inside that I couldn't explain. I felt it the moment I laid eyes on him. I was afraid he would kill me but I didn't know what to do. The police wouldn't care about a weirdo at my window. I was a council tenant and there was nowhere else to go. <br><br>The guy had a few teeth missing and black teeth and looked dirty. I didn't know he was Julie's ex at that time, until his sister told me. I would have expected her to warn me about him. She didn't tell me that he was a stalker though and that he would keep turning up. He would appear at random intervals, always lurking around me. Sometimes he'd bring flowers, which was creepy. I'd see him in the street, at the shops, on public transport, basically, everywhere. It was like he had nothing to do but follow me. I avoided going out but I had to go to work and to university part-time and I knew all my routines. <br><br>I would see him at Julie's because his sister still lived next door and he'd still go round to visit her but he never showed any interest in Julie or her son. It was only me. I reported him to the police and I was meant to keep a log and take photos of him because I couldn't prove it was him at my window. But I was so scared and I'd miss him, because I didn't know when he'd appear and I'd go into hiding when I saw him and I didn't want to take a photo of him face to face. I didn't want to spend my life waiting, I had a degree to finish. At the time I never even considered changing my life plan to avoid him. I guess I hoped he would go away but I was so so anxious I avoided my own life. I just wanted him gone. If he was in prison he couldn't bother me and I'd feel safe.<br><br>I didn't want to tell anyone about it but I told my boyfriend. He was so nice. He stayed with me and accompanied me when I went out. The stalker didn't bother us when we were together and he didn't go near my BF either, so I think there was a part of him that was afraid. With my BF I was a bit braver and my BF took photos of the stalker and got a few on camera. I'd been told to go to a magistrates and get a restraining order but I was told that might make him worse. My boyfriend didn't agree with that and made me go. <br><br>It turned out the stalker was still on his hospital order. He'd moved to our block with his sister without telling his team. I did go to the magistrates and get a restraining order and, as my BF had got photos, the police were now able to warn him off and they made him break his tenancy with his sister and move somewhere else. They told him not to contact me or come near me. I haven't seen him since. It's been nine years. I'm glad my boyfriend made me stand up for myself. I feel bad because I let my fear of him stop me from telling Julie he was out. I didn't want to upset her. My boyfriend didn't get that and I understand why.