A lifetime ban from contacting a BBC Scotland presenter has been imposed on a 71-year-old man who engaged in a prolonged campaign of harassment against her.

The man, identified as Robert Green, was taken into custody in 2024 after his actions intensified and he started showing up at the residence of Anne McAlpine, a presenter with BBC Scotland.

Anne McAlpine, a 39-year-old journalist, has opened up about the distressing experience of being stalked, describing the behaviour as "intrusive and intimidating" and recounting the fear it instilled in her.

As part of his sentence, Robert Green will be under supervision for two years, and he is also subject to a lifetime non-harassment order that prohibits any further contact with Anne McAlpine, as ruled by Sheriff Owen Mullan.

Despite pleading not guilty, Green was convicted of subjecting Anne McAlpine to a course of conduct that caused her fear and alarm over a period of nearly four years, from February 2021 to November 2024.

According to Sheriff Mullan, Green's actions were deemed "sinister, unwelcomed and upsetting" for the individual affected, with the imposed sentence serving as a direct alternative to incarceration.

Anne recalled that her experience began in 2021, when letters started arriving at the BBC Scotland headquarters in Glasgow.

In an interview with BBC Scotland's Scotcast, Anne described the letters as handwritten and uniformly signed in capital letters by the same individual.

The letters contained a mix of love declarations, poetic content, and accompanied gifts, including CDs and jewellery, all sent by the same person, Anne explained.

Anne stated that she would often receive multiple letters in a single week, with this pattern continuing for approximately eight to 12 months, allowing her to keep track of the correspondence due to the inclusion of dates and signatures.

According to her account, the interactions made her feel uneasy, yet she chose not to file a complaint at the time.

Many of the letters remained unopened, often being discarded immediately after receipt, depending on her location at the time.

It was only later that the unopened letters became significant evidence, although their importance was not apparent initially.

The content of the letters sent by Green implied a level of familiarity or connection between them.

Green reportedly believed that Anne was conveying secret messages to him through her television appearances, interpreting meanings from her attire, body language, and even the way she handled objects.

It appeared that he was closely monitoring her public appearances, taking note of her attire, statements, and actions.

The individual then began discussing his attempts to establish communication with her.

According to Anne, he mentioned attempting to contact her through reception, trying to obtain her phone number, and requesting to be put through, all of which were unsuccessful.

In October 2021, Anne became engaged to cameraman Ken McAlpine.

At the time, Anne's television career was thriving, with regular presenting roles on BBC Scotland News programmes, a notable position on the countryside programme Landward, and voiceover work for Scotland's Home of The Year.

On air, Anne's engagement ring was prominently visible, a symbol of her recent commitment.

A turning point was reached in the exchange of letters with Green, marking a significant change in the dynamics.

According to Anne, the tone of Green's letters underwent a notable shift, as he expressed his emotional distress and surprise at her engagement, stating he had been unaware of her relationship status.

At this juncture, Green announced his intention to cease communication, and from Anne's perspective, the matter was considered closed.

With Anne's engagement now public, Green acknowledged his feelings and decided to respect her commitment, stating that he would no longer send letters.

In 2024, Green unexpectedly appeared at Anne's residence, coinciding with her arrival home courtesy of a colleague.

Anne described the encounter, stating: "As I prepared to exit the vehicle on that dark evening, I noticed a man approaching with a carrier bag, maintaining eye contact, which immediately triggered a sense of unease.

His demeanor did not suggest a friendly intent, nor did it appear he was seeking assistance or attempting to initiate conversation.

In response, Anne instructed her friend to secure the vehicle by locking the doors.

The man proceeded to approach the passenger-side window, where he simply stood and stared, prompting Anne to express her discomfort to her friend, advising them to depart the scene.

As they circled the block, Anne made a call to her fiancé, asking him to meet her at the front door.

By the time her fiancé arrived, Green had already left the scene.

Approximately two months later, Anne's sleep was interrupted by the sound of her doorbell ringing in the early morning hours.

The doorbell rang between 04:30 and 05:00, with the buzzer being held down continuously for 20 to 30 seconds, creating a sense of urgency that prompted Anne to get out of bed and check her phone.

Upon checking her phone, Anne found no messages, and with her husband away, she was alone in the house.

Upon responding to the intercom, there was no one on the other end, prompting a check of the window, where a man was seen standing in the road, holding a carrier bag and looking up towards the window.

The encounter was unsettling, largely due to the fact that the individual was unrecognizable, adding to the sense of unease.

A notable detail was the carrier bag the man was holding, which served as a connection to a previous incident involving a car drop-off.

Further incidents occurred, including nighttime doorbell ringing, and it was discovered that neighbors had interactions with Green outside the building, indicating a pattern of behavior.

Green's attempts to gain access to the building involved claiming to be searching for Anne McAlpine, as part of his efforts to establish a connection.

Following the incident, Anne promptly notified the authorities, leading to Green's swift arrest in the vicinity of her residence.

Anne explained that law enforcement played a crucial role in uncovering the link between the letters and the individual who appeared at her house, ultimately revealing that both were connected to the same person.

The incident occurred five years ago, and its aftermath has significantly affected Anne's life since then.

Anne reflected on her initial response, saying, "Perhaps I downplayed the situation; my Hebridean upbringing may have influenced me to appear more resilient than I actually was."

Anne emphasized the importance of discussing her experience, stating that no one should ever feel threatened or vulnerable within their own home.

The experience was described as overly intrusive, with a sense of intimidation and a significant breach of personal privacy.

Questions remain about the individual's motivations, including the purpose behind his attempt to enter the residence and how he obtained the address.

Anne reported feeling apprehensive and fearful, leading to a period of self-doubt and scrutiny of her surroundings.

She expressed concerns about the potential consequences of being a public figure, wondering if the benefits were worth the potential risks and disruptions to her life.

As a result, Anne began to consider making significant changes, including potentially relocating and reevaluating her career choices.

The experience left a lasting impact, one that Anne would not want others to endure.

Anne acknowledges that she was fortunate to have received support during a difficult time.

Anne expresses gratitude for the system that ultimately heard her out and took her seriously.

She recognizes the significance of a supportive environment, noting that a lack of belief or understanding would only exacerbate the stress and difficulties already present in such situations.

As Anne begins to rebuild her life, she notes that she has undergone a significant transformation, emerging as a distinctly different person from the one she was before receiving the initial letter.

She reports a significant increase in anxiety and introversion compared to her state before.

Her current focus is on coping with the situation, striving to prevent it from having a further impact on her life.

Despite the challenges, she experienced a greater sense of relief than anticipated.

She expresses hope and happiness about being able to move forward, acknowledging that not everyone is able to achieve such closure.