A chauffeur has been sentenced for stalking a Qatari princess, believing they were in a romantic relationship, causing her distress.
London: A chauffeur named Jihad Abousalah got himself into serious trouble after he started stalking a Qatari princess. He thought they were in a relationship, which was far from the truth.
Abousalah, 47, was sentenced to a community order after his actions between March 1 and March 23 came to light in court. He used to drive for Haya Al-Thani, a member of the Qatari royal family, but things took a weird turn.
He sent her flowers and even birthday notes, thinking that would win her over. He went as far as calling her while she was in Doha, which made her really uncomfortable.
Things escalated when he showed up at her place, trying to give flowers to her staff. That’s when she decided enough was enough and asked her husband to hire private security for her safety.
She felt so anxious that she couldn’t go about her daily life without looking out the window to see if he was lurking around. It was a tough situation for her and her kids.
In court, Abousalah’s lawyer mentioned that he had mental health issues, which contributed to his misguided belief about their relationship. He even divorced his wife over this delusion.
The judge took his mental health into account when sentencing him. She acknowledged the distress he caused to the princess and gave him a 12-month community order along with a rehabilitation requirement.
Plus, he’s now under a three-year restraining order, meaning he has to stay away from her and her husband, as well as the Hyde Park area. It’s a wild story that shows how serious stalking can get.