A serial stalker whose actions had frightening parallels to a character in the Netflix show Baby Reindeer has been jailed for five years.
Clerk Kobi Langshaw carried out a “deliberate, ruthless and carefully calculated” campaign against two men over eight years, a Perth court heard.
Her obsession with a man she was in love with and his best friend, who she hated, led to her being called 'Australia's Baby Reindeer'.
Langshaw was convicted of three counts of stalking and 21 counts of violating a violence restraining order in relation to family lawyer Patrick Gardner and his friend, Aaron Herbert, who is also a lawyer, for crimes committed in 2020.
His actions included moving to the suburb where one of the men lived and stopping by his house every morning before going to work. Western Australia reported.
The extent of her crimes led magistrate Belinda Coleman to conclude that Langshaw posed a high risk of reoffending and that she was “very dangerous”.
'Having had the opportunity to observe him closely during a 15-day trial and subsequent court appearances… I believe I have gained valuable information,' the magistrate told Langshaw.
'In my opinion, you take the opportunity to provide explanations and apologies for having offended and enjoy being the center of attention.'
Law clerk Kobe Langshaw (pictured), who harassed two male lawyers for eight years, was jailed for five years
The magistrate said it would take her a full day to describe “the inconsistencies in the various reports and allegations” Langshaw had presented.
She said the lawyer was “a terrible historian” regarding her childhood and the crimes she committed.
'And you harass… out of a desire for retribution or power. You continue to present a high risk of reoffending. I consider you very dangerous.
In their victim impact statements, both Mr Gardner and Mr Herbert said they felt “utterly helpless” and were not believed.
They said they felt the police did not take their complaints seriously at first and spent countless hours trying to prove the crimes committed against them.
Langshaw's offenses have been compared to those of Martha (pictured) in Baby Reindeer, who relentlessly pursues a bartender who showed her some kindness
Last May, Langshaw was banned for life from contacting the two men.
When the ban was handed down in Perth Magistrates Court, Langshaw repeatedly interrupted and argued with Ms Coleman.
The court heard Langshaw was convicted on five other occasions of breaching violence restraining orders, stalking with intent to intimidate, lying to obtain bail, common assault and criminal damage.
Langshaw's offenses have been compared to those of Martha in this year's Netflix hit Baby Reindeer, who relentlessly pursues a bartender who showed her some kindness.
Langshaw, who represented himself in court, met criminal and family lawyer Mr Gardner in 2015 when he was a brief client of his.
The following year he took out a violence restraining order against her The Australian reported.
The court was told of the extraordinary efforts Langshaw made in pursuing his victims.
On one occasion she called the chairman of Mr Gardner's football club pretending to be an AFL official saying she had a refereeing award for him The Evening reported.
She later showed up at the club's awards night and refused to leave.
On another occasion, Langshaw let his children play with skipping ropes just meters from Mr Gardner's home, which was captured on CCTV.
She was also prevented from entering the Family Court building in Perth due to explosions there.
“She is a very intelligent woman,” Coleman said. 'It's clear that she uses charm to manipulate others for personal gain.
'She has a sense of superiority and is very stubborn. When challenged, she becomes hostile, but can instantly revert to being sweet and unassuming.
The magistrate found that Langshaw was in love with Mr. Gardner and had a hatred for Mr. Herbert that was almost pathological.
Magistrate Coleman granted a police request for lifetime restraining orders for Langshaw, banning her from contacting the victims again.
Langshaw's sentence was backdated to August 2023 to take into account time already served and made her eligible for parole.
